Supplementation stocking of Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in small boreal lakes: Ecotypes influence on growth and condition.

Abstract

Supplementation stocking is a commonly used management tool to sustain exploited fish populations. Possible negative consequences of supplementation on local stocks are a concern for the conservation of wild fish populations. However, the direct impacts of supplementation on life history traits of local populations have rarely been investigated. In addition, intraspecific hybridization between contrasting ecotypes (planktivorous and piscivorous) has been seldom considered in supplementation plans. Here, we combined genetic (genotype-by-sequencing analysis) and life history traits to document the effects of supplementation on maximum length, growth rates, body condition and genetic admixture in stocked populations of two Lake Trout ecotypes from small boreal lakes in Quebec and Ontario, Canada. In both ecotypes, the length of stocked individuals was greater than local individuals and, in planktivorous-stocked populations, most stocked fish exhibited a planktivorous-like growth while 20% of fish exhibited piscivorous-like growth. The body condition index was positively related to the proportion of local genetic background, but this pattern was only observed in stocked planktivorous populations. We conclude that interactions and hybridization between contrasting ecotypes is a risk that could result in deleterious impacts and possible outbreeding depression. We discuss the implications of these findings for supplementation stocking.