Variation in Body Weight and Total Length Among Families of White Bass, Morone chrysops, Fry After Communal Rearing

Abstract

Variation in body weight and total length among 15 families of Phase I white bass, Morone chrysops, was evaluated in a communal pond. Trait heritabilities (h²) were estimated and family pedigrees were determined a posteriori using microsatellite molecular markers. Fry averaged 36.7 ± 2.6 mm and 0.53 ± 0.10 g across all families after 32 days of communal rearing. The number of offspring identified in our sample per family ranged between three and 28. There were significant differences between families in both body weight and length (P < 0.05). The families clustered into four overlapping groups, but family rankings differed by trait. Both traits showed low heritability (h ² = 0.07, length; h ² = 0.06, weight). Subsequent studies in white bass should include assessment of larger fish to obtain genetic estimates at different stages in the production cycle. This study represents the first effort to assess variation among white bass families for any growth-related trait using a communal rearing approach.

Keywords:

• white bass
• Morone
• communal rearing
• genetic improvement

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank B. Kelly, J. Sheiderer, B. Farmer, T. Bader, and J. Brown for their help throughout the study. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this article is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Notes

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