ABSTRACT
The rationale for constructing artificial reefs is based on the common observation that certain fishes are attracted to reefs for food and shelter and that solid substrates provide a firm surface of attachment for biota resulting in higher production and biomass than do unstable substrates. To anticipate what organisms are likely to colonize artificial reefs in the Great Lakes it is useful to know the biota of naturally rocky areas. In southwestern Lake Michigan the most common yellow perch prey, crayfish and sculpins are associated with rocky bottoms. A “potential crayfish shelter” was a loose rock at least 10 cm in at least one dimension and was recorded as a potential shelter before it was checked for crayfish. The chapter concludes that artificial reefs are likely to be very effective at producing high abundances of fish prey in Lake Michigan and present some ideas on what reef designs might maximize prey abundance.
