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AUTHORS: Alex J Rosburg, Department of Natural Resource Management, South Dakota State University; Brian G Blackwell, South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks; Steven R Chipps, U.S. Geological Survey, South Dakota State University Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit; Justin A VanDeHey, College of Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin Stevens Point; Wesley A Larson, U.S. Geological Survey, Wisconsin Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit
ABSTRACT: Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) represent a valued sport fish throughout their range and are an important prey species for piscivorous fishes. In South Dakota, two distinct population types of Yellow Perch have been characterized that differ in growth, survival, and recruitment patterns. High quality populations exhibit fast growth, high mortality, low population densities, and inconsistent recruitment. In contrast, low quality populations are characterized by slow growth, low mortality, high population densities, and relatively consistent recruitment. The role of genetics in contributing to these population characteristics is currently unknown. To address these questions, we used a combination of laboratory and common garden growth experiments to compare relative growth and survival of age-0 yellow perch from the two population types. We then used high-throughput RAD sequencing to scan the yellow perch genome for genetic markers associated with population type. The laboratory and common garden experiments showed no significant differences between weight standardized specific growth rates of perch from the high and low quality populations. Results from the RAD sequencing revealed that population characteristics are not likely linked to genetic differences between population types. Thus, population attributes appear to be shaped more by biotic and abiotic attributes than heritable differences between populations.
