Influence of maternal size on survival and growth of striped bass Morone saxatilis Walbaum eggs and larvae

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that Chesapeake Bay striped bass Morone saxatilis Walbaum egg weights are directly related to weight of the female parent. We hypothesized that maternal size also may influence larval growth and survival. Striped bass eggs, obtained from hatchery-spawned females weighing <4 and >15 kg, were hatched and the larvae reared in the laboratory to compare growth and survival to 25 days posthatch (dph). Small females tended to produce smaller larvae, which at 5 dph averaged 193 μg dry weight and 5.5 mm standard length (SL) compared to 237 μg and 5.7 mm for larvae from large females. At 25 dph, there was no evidence of compensatory growth and the relative size differences were maintained. Mean weights and lengths of 25 dph larvae from small and large females were 2.99 mg, 11.5 mm and 3.66 mg, 12.3 mm, respectively. Mean weight-specific growth rate was 0.15 · day −1 and did not differ significantly between progeny from small and large females. However, growth-in-length rates did differ. Larvae from large females grew at 0.34 mm · day −1 while larvae from small females grew only 0.31 mm· day −1. The mean survival rate to 25 dph ranged from 72 to 87% and was not related to female size.