VARIATION IN GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION OF WALLEYE (STIZOSTEDION-VITREUM) IN 3 MANITOBA LAKES

Growth, lifetime egg production and biomass, and lipid accumulation in three female populations of walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) were studi ed. Two populations inhabit large, heavily exploited Canadian prairie lakes and the third inhabits a smaller, cooler, unexploited boreal lak e in the Canadian Shield. Fish in the unexploited population grew more slowly and to a smaller asymptotic size than those in the other two p opulations. Although annual reproductive output per individual was les s for this population, the reproductive life-span was greater. Lifetim e egg production and ovary lipid biomass per recruit appeared to be si milar (within 13%) for female walleye in the three different populatio ns. The significance of energy allocation in the life history of these populations is discussed.