Document Type
Article
Abstract
Stocking has long been used as a management tool in the United States even though many of its effects remain cryptic. Past comparisons between stocked strains were generally based on the survival and growth rates of physically marked individuals. More recently the use of genetic markers to assess contributions of stocked individuals has been employed by fisheries managers. Using 13 microsatellite markers we assessed the contributions of two muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) strains (Wisconsin and Leech) stocked into the St. Louis River Estuary. Ancestry in the adult samples remained relatively constant with differences only observed between the 2008 and 2013 samples. Samples for young of year individuals told a different story with no significant differences observed between any sample years. Due to these differences more information from additional sample years will be needed to determine if we are really witnessing a change in the genetics of fish in the system. Regardless, both strains appear to be contributing to a healthy muskellunge population; the St. Louis River Estuary shows us one of the benefits of interstate management.
Publication Date
2015
Recommended Citation
Zentner, Douglas, "Assessing the Contributions of Two Stocked Strains on a Minnesota-Wisconsin Border Water" (2015). Journal of Earth and Life Science. 39.
https://pines.bemidjistate.edu/j-earth-life-sci/39
Included in
Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons, Biology Commons, Laboratory and Basic Science Research Commons, Other Genetics and Genomics Commons, Population Biology Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons
Comments
Faculty sponsor: Dr. Andrew Hafs, Department of Biology, Aquatic Biology Program and Dr. Loren Miller.