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Variations in Fecundity of White Crappie in Conowingo Pond, Pennsylvania
Author(s) -
Mathur Dilip,
McCreight Pauline L.,
Nardacci George A.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
transactions of the american fisheries society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1548-8659
pISSN - 0002-8487
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8659(1979)108<548:vifowc>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - fecundity , white (mutation) , fishery , environmental science , biology , medicine , environmental health , population , biochemistry , gene
Annual variations in fecundity of the white crappie (Pomoxis annularis) occurred in Conowingo Pond, a 35.8‐km 2 impoundment on the lower Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania. The relative fecundity of 119 white crappies in 1971 to 1973 ranged from 177 to 295 eggs per gram of fish. In 1974–1976 the relative fecundity of 154 white crappies ranged from 259 to 304. Although length, age, and weight of the fish were all significantly correlated with fecundity, weight explained most variation and thus was the best predictor. As determined by analysis of covariance, the relative and mean adjusted fecundity were significantly different (P < 0.001) among years. Random variations in egg number were greater among years than between preoperational (1971–1974) and postoperational (1975–1976) periods with respect to start‐up of a nuclear power station. Some evidence of density‐dependent variation in fecundity existed in the white crappie population; fecundity increased at low white crappie density. However, annual variations in fecundity were not significantly correlated with variations either in average physicochemical conditions or in the abundance of spawners.