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Title: Identification of gender in yellow perch Perca flavescens using external morphology

Author
item Shepherd, Brian
item Rees, Christopher
item Sepulveda Villet, Osvaldo
item Palmquist, Debra
item BINKOWSKI, FRED - Water Institute

Submitted to: Book of Abstracts World Aquaculture Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/18/2013
Publication Date: 2/9/2014
Citation: Shepherd, B.S., Rees, C.B., Sepulveda Villet, O.J., Palmquist, D.E., Binkowski, F.P. 2014. Identification of gender in yellow perch Perca flavescens using external morphology. Book of Abstracts World Aquaculture Society. Paper No. 224.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A non-lethal and rapid method for reliable identification of gender in yellow perch has been developed. On average, yellow perch females grow faster than males and undergo sexual maturity at an earlier age. Such size discrepancies in mixed culture situations pose difficulties with aquaculture production and genetic selection. To address these issues, criteria were developed and experimentally validated to enable gender identification in yellow perch based upon the coloring and shape of the external reproductive features. Accuracy of this method exceeds 97% and has been validated in four geographic strains of domesticated yellow perch. This non-lethal method provides producers and researchers with a useful and practical tool to enable cost-effective sorting of sexes for many uses such as: 1) development and management of broodstocks prior to, and during, breeding; 2) conducting multi-tank replicate experiments aimed at examining gender-specific differences in yellow perch physiology; and 3) identification of the fastest-growing individuals of each sex in yellow perch broodstock genetic selection programs dedicated to developing improved growth performance. Additionally, this method allows for the unharmed release of each animal and can be used in the field during wild yellow perch population surveys. This presentation will provide an overview of the basic morphological differences between yellow perch males and females and outline a gender identification algorithm.