Yellow Perch Length–Fecundity and Length–Egg Size Relationships in Indiana Waters of Lake Michigan

Abstract

This study was undertaken to quantify the length-fecundity and length-egg size relationships for yellow perch Perca flavescens in the Indiana waters of Lake Michigan. Data were pooled from gill-net collections made in 1985, 1986, and 1999, resulting in a wide length range of mature female yellow perch (172-332 mm total length [TL]). The length-fecundity relationship was log 10 F ϭ Ϫ3.220 ϩ 3.223·log 10 TL (r 2 ϭ 0.89), where F is fecundity. The mean preserved egg volume (V; mL) increased with yellow perch TL and was represented by the following equation: log 10 V ϭ Ϫ2.06 ϩ 1.10·log 10 TL (r 2 ϭ 0.48). These results reveal that larger females produced both more and larger eggs than did smaller females. Therefore, the intense harvest targeting large yellow perch (primarily females) in the 1980s and 1990s may have had an effect on the quantity and quality of eggs spawned by the population, possibly resulting in reduced recruitment.

Maternal effects of common carp on egg quantity and quality

“…Offspring size is the most widely evaluated and recognized effect in maternal ecology and is significant because offspring quality directly affects maternal and offspring fitness (Bernardo 1996). Significant female effects on egg size and abundance have been documented for many fishes (Heyer et al 2001;Bunnell et al 2005;Lauer et al 2005). Large females in good condition have been associated with higher fecundity (Marshall et al 1999) and larger eggs with higher energy content (Heyer et al 2001;Ouellet et al 2001;Lauer et al 2005).…”

“…Only three manuscripts were found that reported linear common carp length-fecundity relationships (Swee and McCrimmon 1966;Sivakumaran et al 2003;Bajer and Sorensen 2010). Our length-fecundity relationship was compared with the previously published relationships by plotting 95% confidence intervals around our regression line and comparing this area with the regression lines from other studies (Lauer et al 2005). …”

“…Total length (mm) and weight (g) of each fish was recorded, the dorsal spine was removed for aging (Weber and Brown 2011b), and both ovaries were removed and weighed. Two ovary subsamples that incorporated parts of both ovaries ( $ 15 g each) were separated: one ovary subsample was placed into 5% buffered formalin and eggs were allowed to soak for 12 months to facilitate the breakdown of connective tissue (Lauer et al 2005) whereas the second ovary subsample was placed in a drying oven at 60 C for 20 d to dry to a constant weight for bomb calorimetry. Fecundity was estimated by separating a sample of eggs preserved in 5% buffered formalin into three subsamples of approximately equal size.…”

“…Variation in early life history traits, including egg quantity or quality, is often related to maternal effects (Bernardo 1996;Bunnell et al 2005;Lauer et al 2005). Maternal effects are 'a class of phenotypic effects that parents have on phenotypes of their offspring that are unrelated to the offspring's own genotype' and result from differential reproductive investment by parents (Bernardo 1996).…”

“…Maternal effects are 'a class of phenotypic effects that parents have on phenotypes of their offspring that are unrelated to the offspring's own genotype' and result from differential reproductive investment by parents (Bernardo 1996). Larger and/or older females that are in better condition often produce more and/or larger eggs with additional nutritional (lipid) reserves compared to smaller or younger females in poorer condition (Heyer et al 2001;Smith and Walker 2004;Bunnell et al 2005;Lauer et al 2005). Thus, adult populations comprised of large females in good condition may be more fecund, produce higher quality eggs, or both.…”