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

Abstract

Abstract: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.Résumé : Les changements survenus dans la distribution des caractéristiques phénotypiques des Perchaudes (Perca flavescens) adultes du lac Michigan laissent croire que les effets maternels sur les caractéristiques larvaires influencent de façon substantielle le recrutement chez cette espèce fortement exploitée. Nous avons étudié les effets maternels sur des larves néonates de Perchaudes de 10 lignées maternelles dans le but de tester l'hypothèse nulle de l'absence d'effets du phénotype maternel sur le phénotype et la condition de la descendance. Nos analyses nous amènent à rejeter l'hypothèse nulle et indiquent que les effets maternels observés résultent probablement de différences dans la taille, l'âge, l'indice ganadosomatique et la production d'oeufs des femelles. Les effets maternels se manifestent dans la progéniture par des différences dans la longueur totale, le volume du vitellus, la masse sèche et la quantité d'ADN des larves. Les femelles plus âgées et plus grosses ont une forte fécondité, malgré un indice ganadosomatique faible. De plus, ces femelles produisent des petits qui sont, en moyenne, courts avec de gros sacs vitellins et d'importantes réser-ves corporelles, en masse sèche et en contenu d'ADN total. En conclusion, la distribution des caractère larvaires des Perchaudes du lac Michigan est reliée aux influences maternelles; ces liens peuvent fournir aux gestionnaires un outil qui les aidera à restaurer les populations.[Traduit par la Rédaction] Heyer et al. 1487

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).…”

“…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). Maternal effects observed in eggs can persist and affect larval traits, persisting to influence year-class size (Marteinsdottir and Steinarsson 1998;Marshall et al 1999).…”

“…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.…”

“…Thus, adult populations comprised of large females in good condition may be more fecund, produce higher quality eggs, or both. The implication for maternal effects passed on to their progeny has consequences for offspring condition and survival (Marteinsdottir and Steinarsson 1998;Heyer et al 2001) and eventual recruitment to the adult population (Marshall et al 1999).…”

Relationship of RNA/DNA ratio and temperature to growth in larvae of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua

“…In both laboratory and field applications, the ratio of RNA to DNA (R/D) is a widely used index of recent growth and nutritional condition in larval fishes (e.g. Buckley & Lough 1987, Robinson & Ware 1988, Canino et al 1991, Malloy & Targett 1994a, Folkvord et al 1996, Clemmesen et al 1997, Rooker et al 1997, Chícharo 1998, Heyer et al 2001. The physiological basis for this index is that RNA, which consists of ribosomal RNA (75 to 94% of total RNA), messenger RNA, and transfer RNA, is an essential cellular component in the biosynthesis of proteins (Young 1970).…”