Maternal effects as a recruitment mechanism in Lake Michigan yellow perch (Perca flavescens)

• Published in: Canadian journal of fisheries and aquatic sciences Vol. 58; no. 7; pp. 1477 - 1487
• Main Authors: Heyer, Christopher J, Miller, Thomas J, Binkowski, Fred P, Caldarone, Elaine M, Rice, James A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ottawa, Canada NRC Research Press 01.07.2001; National Research Council of Canada; Canadian Science Publishing NRC Research Press
• Subjects: Agnatha. Pisces; Animal and plant ecology; Animal populations; Animal reproduction; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Breeding; Demecology; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; Exploitation and management of natural biological resources (hunting, fishing and exploited populations survey, etc.); Females; Fish; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Perca flavescens; Perch (Fish); Vertebrata; Lake Michigan; Great Lakes of America; North America; America; USA, Michigan L; Freshwater environment; Vertebrata; Population management; Phenotype; Fishery; Larva; Pisces; Population recruitment; Maternal effect; Perca flavescens
• ISSN: 0706-652X; 1205-7533
• DOI: 10.1139/f01-090

Changes that occurred in the distribution of adult Lake Michigan yellow perch (Perca flavescens) phenotypic traits suggest that maternal effects on larval traits may be substantially influencing the recruitment of this heavily exploited species. We investigated maternal effects on yellow perch larvae at hatching in 10 maternal lines to test the null hypothesis of no effect of maternal phenotype on offspring phenotype and condition. Analyses lead to a rejection of the null hypothesis and indicated that the observed maternal effects likely resulted from differences among females in size, age, gonadosomatic index, and egg production. The observed maternal effects were expressed in the offspring by differences in larval total length, yolk volume, dry weight, and DNA quantity. Older, larger females were found to have high fecundity, yet low gonadosomatic index. Furthermore, older, larger females produced offspring that were, on average, short with large yolk sacs and high quantities of body reserves, as measured by dry weight and total DNA content. We conclude that the distribution of Lake Michigan yellow perch larval traits at hatching is linked to maternal influences and that this linkage may provide a mechanism through which managers can help rebuild the population.