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Hatching Time and Early Growth of Age‐0 Black Crappies, White Crappies, and Their Naturally Produced F 1 Hybrids in Weiss Lake, Alabama
Author(s) -
Travnichek Vincent H.,
Maceina Michael J.,
Dunham Rex A.
Publication year - 1996
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(1996)125<0334:htaego>2.3.co;2
Subject(s) - hybrid , biology , hatching , horticulture , zoology
Extensive natural hybridization occurs between black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus and white crappie P. annularis in Weiss Lake, Alabama. First‐generation (F 1 ) hybrids have faster annual growth than black crappies and white crappies in this reservoir. However, no information exists on hatching date and early growth differences among black crappies, white crappies, and F 1 hybrid offspring. We collected age‐0 crappies in early August 1992–1994 from Weiss Lake and identified species and their hybrids with starch gel electrophoresis. Hatching date and early growth were determined from otoliths. Swim‐up dates of F 1 hybrids peaked about a week earlier than those of parental species. The growth rate of F 1 hybrids (0.86 mm/d) was significantly higher than those of black crappies (0.67 mm/d) and white crappies (0.72 mm/d). Back‐calculated lengths at ages 10, 20, and 30 d were higher for F 1 hybrids compared with black crappies. Thus, the faster growth of F 1 hybrids starts just after hatching and continues throughout life.