Mating systems and predictors of relative reproductive success in a
cutthroat trout subspecies of conservation concern
Abstract
Mating systems and patterns in reproductive success of fishes play an
important role in ecology and evolution. While information on the
reproductive ecology of many anadromous salmonids (Oncorhynchus
spp.) is well-detailed, there is less information for non-anadromous
species including the Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout (O. clarkii
bouvieri), a species of recreational angling importance and
conservation concern. Here, we used data from a parentage-based tagging
study to describe the mating system of Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout from
a spawning tributary of the South Fork Snake River, Idaho, and identify
predictors of relative reproductive success. We detected evidence of
monogamy, polygyny, and polyandry and showed that reproductive success
was best explained by arrival time at the spawning ground and total
length. Specifically, the largest adults arrived earliest in the season
and produced a disproportionate number of offspring. Lastly, we
estimated the effective number of breeders (Nb)
and effective population size (Ne) and showed
that while Nb was lower than Ne, both are sufficiently high to suggest
Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout in Burns Creek represent a genetically
stable and diverse population.