Relationships between maternal size, egg diameter, time of spawning season, temperature, and length at hatch of Atlantic silverside, Menidia menidia

Abstract

Eggs were stripped from gravid Atlantic silversides collected on two occasions. once during the early part and once during the late part of the natural spawning season. Unfertilized egg diameter was not correlated with length of the female. nor was it significantly larger during the early part of the season. Eggs were fertilized and incubated in the laboratory. Larval length at hatch was measured every 24 h during the hatching period after embryos were incubated at I8 or 25" C. Lower incubation temperature caused a significantly greater length at hatch for the offspring of each ofthe 20 females studies. In most cases (17 out of20 at 25" C, 10 out of 20 at 18" C). there was a significant decrease in length at hatch during the hatching period for a given female's eggs incubated at a given temperature. In the natural environment. larvae hatched early in the season under cooler temperatures could average 12% longer than those hatched later under warmer tempcratures, and therefore may have a greaterchance ofsurvival. The results help to explain the observation that field-caught M . nienidia that hatched early in the season are larger at any given age than those that hatched late in the season.

Paternal identity impacts embryonic development for two species of freshwater fish

“…Maternal factors have, no doubt, a major influence on early life history traits via spawning site selection, fecundity, egg quality, egg size, and provisioning of yolk (Bengtson et al, 1987;Green, 2008). Females contribute in contrast to males, not only 50% of the nuclear genomic DNA, but also non genetic components for instance in form of a yolk and carotenoid supply (Rideout et al, 2004).…”

“…Females contribute in contrast to males, not only 50% of the nuclear genomic DNA, but also non genetic components for instance in form of a yolk and carotenoid supply (Rideout et al, 2004). Maternal factors influence initial offspring quality and size primarily by influencing egg quality and size (Bengtson et al, 1987;Chambers and Leggett, 1996;Marteinsdottir and Steinarsson, 1998). Generally, larger and older females normally produce relatively large offspring, which according to the ''bigger is better hypothesis" may confer advantages to offspring during ELH (Chambers and Leggett, 1996;Trippel et al, 1997).…”

Estimation of Male Reproductive Success of Marine Fisheries

“…Fertilized eggs can be created using concentrated sperm dilutions (e.g., dry fertilization) which potentially increases the number of fertilized eggs per sample. Geffen, 1992;Rideout et al, in press), as maternal effects are generally presumed to control this early life stage (Bengtson et al, 1987;Chambers et al, 1988;Chambers and Leggett, 1996). The male effect can be studied for several weeks or months as larvae continue to grow and commence exogenous feeding and become juveniles.…”

“…Quantity of spawned eggs has been positively correlated with maternal length, age and nutritional condition (Bagenal, 1973;Kjesbu et al, 1991Kjesbu et al, , 1996. Variability in size and quality of eggs influences early life success and presumably recruitment (Blaxter and Hempel, 1963;Bengtson et al, 1987;Chambers, 1997;Pepin et al, 1997;. What then is the male's role in determining recruitment success?…”

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

“…Significant maternal effects in larval traits have been observed in a few species. The traits for which these effects have been documented are size at hatch (chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta), Beacham and Murray 1985; Atlantic silverside (Menidia menidia), Bengston et al 1987), yolk volume at hatch (chum salmon, Beacham and Murray 1985;capelin (Mallotus villosus), Chambers et al 1989), and size at metamorphosis (winter flounder (Plueronectes americanus), Chambers and Leggett 1992). Chambers and Leggett (1996) concluded that "body size during larval life was likely to be significantly influenced by maternal effects."…”