Abstract
Summary Sturgeon species are known for their relatively high fecundity, with some reported to carry as many as 7.7-million eggs. However, the fecundity of lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescesn Rafinesque) has not been thoroughly studied, with limited information available primarily in gray literature and agency reports. Our objectives were to quantify (1) the fecundity and gonadosomatic index (GSI) of female lake sturgeon in a winter F4 stage of development; 2) the average size and weight of F4 lake sturgeon eggs; and 3) relationships between lake sturgeon fecundity and fish weight, length, and age. Total length, weight, age, gonad weight, fecundity, egg diameter, and egg weight were sampled from 14 female lake sturgeon in an F4 stage of egg development in February 2005 from the Lake Winnebago System in Wisconsin. Mean fecundity was 383,529 eggs and the mean GSI was 22.9. Egg diameter averaged 2.74 mm and egg weight averaged 17.34 mg. Weight was the best predictor of fecundity (r 2 = 0.66). Fecundity data for lake sturgeon larger than 35 kg are needed to allow better estimation of fecundity for larger fish.
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