Larval dispersal underlies demographically important intersystem connectivity in a Great Lakes yellow perch (Perca flavescens) population

• Published in: Canadian journal of fisheries and aquatic sciences Vol. 73; no. 3; p. 11
• Main Authors: Brodnik, R M, Fraker, ME, Anderson, E J, Carreon-Martinez, L, DeVanna, K M, Heath, D D, Reichert, J M, Roseman, E F, Ludsin, SA
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.2016
• Subjects: Freshwater; Perca flavescens; USA, Michigan; North America, Erie L; North America, Detroit R; USA, Michigan, St. Clair L; USA, Michigan, Detroit R
• ISSN: 0706-652X; 1205-7533

Ability to quantify connectivity among spawning subpopulations and their relative contribution of recruits to the broader population is a critical fisheries management need. By combining microsatellite and age information from larval yellow perch (Perca flavescens) collected in the Lake St. Clair - Detroit River system (SC-DRS) and western Lake Erie with a hydrodynamic backtracking approach, we quantified subpopulation structure, connectivity, and contributions of recruits to the juvenile stage in western Lake Erie during 2006-2007. After finding weak (yet stable) genetic structure between the SC-DRS and two western Lake Erie subpopulations, microsatellites also revealed measurable recruitment of SC-DRS larvae to the juvenile stage in western Lake Erie (17%-21% during 2006-2007). Consideration of precollection larval dispersal trajectories, using hydrodynamic backtracking, increased estimated contributions to 65% in 2006 and 57% in 2007. Our findings highlight the value of complementing subpopulation discrimination methods with hydrodynamic predictions of larval dispersal by revealing the SC-DRS as a source of recruits to western Lake Erie and also showing that connectivity through larval dispersal can affect the structure and dynamics of large lake fish populations.