Variation in the Life History of the American Smelt in Inland Waters of Maine
- 1 October 1959
- journal article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Transactions of the American Fisheries Society
- Vol. 88 (4) , 241-252
- https://doi.org/10.1577/1548-8659(1959)88[241:vitlho]2.0.co;2
Abstract
A survey conducted by Wardens of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Game provided information on the time and duration of smelt spawning runs in 114 Maine lakes in 1958, and in two lakes in years prior to 1958. Other phases of the Maine smelt investigation provided information on spawning sites, habitats occupied, maximum sizes, and behavior with respect to angling. Large variations in these aspects of the life history of the smelt were found. Evidence is presented which suggests that certain phases of the spawning behavior are subject to the law of heterogenous stimulus summation. Possible reasons for the different habitat types occupied, the different maximum sizes attained, and the differences in behavior with respect to angling are briefly discussed. It is suggested that these variations might be the result of speciation in progress. If so, the genetic constitution of the various smelt populations might have implications in management.Keywords
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