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

Changes that occurred in the distribution of adult Lake Michigan yellow per ch (Perca flavescens) phenotypic traits suggest that maternal effects on la rval traits may be substantially influencing the recruitment of this heavil y exploited species. We investigated maternal effects on yellow perch larva e 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 mater nal effects likely resulted from differences among females in size, age, go nadosomatic index, and egg production. The observed maternal effects were e xpressed in the offspring by differences in larval total length, yolk volum e, dry weight, and DNA quantity. Older, larger females were found to have h igh fecundity, yet low gonadosomatic index. Furthermore, older, larger fema les produced offspring that were, on average, short with large yolk sacs an d high quantities of body reserves, as measured by dry weight and total DNA content. We conclude that the distribution of Lake Michigan yellow perch l arval traits at hatching is linked to maternal influences and that this lin kage may provide a mechanism through which managers can help rebuild the po pulation.