Reproductive Strategy of Dwarf and Normal Arctic Charr (Salvelinus alpinus) from Vangsvatnet Lake, Western Norway

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the reproductive strategy maintaining dwarf and normal phenotypes of an Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) population. Both morphs occurred together in the spawning area, but the peak abundance of dwarf spawners was significantly deeper, and later in the spawning period, than normal spawners. Both phenotypes attained sexual maturity at the same age and did not differ in length-specific fecundity or egg diameter. Our data support the hypothesis that the females matured sexually at the age that maximizes their fitness within the constraints imposed by growth and survival. The two female morphs appeared not to have equal fitness; these differences may be due to random events. The males were more heterogeneous by size than the females when maturing sexually. This may be due to intrasexual competition between males making large males the principal spawners. The dwarf males may circumvent the effects of intrasexual competition by mimicking immature fish, sneak at the redds of normal females, and participate in the spawning acts of normal charr pairs. Also, they may fertilize the eggs of dwarf females spawning in deeper areas.The two charr morphs developed from a uniform young phenotype (parr). The dwarf spawners were precocious individuals maturing sexually in their parr stage, whereas normal spawners had a color shift, analogous to smoltification in anadromous charr, before they attained sexual maturity. The different spawning coloration of the two morphs may be due to sexual selection.Key words: spawning, growth, fecundity, mortality, sexual selection, maturing strategy