Paternal effects on haddock early life history traits

Abstract

Paternal effects on haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus early life history traits were examined by crossing eggs and sperm in a nested design and analysing the progeny at 0, 5 and 10 days post‐hatch (dph). The proportion of the variance in early life history traits that was due to paternity was significant for hatching success, larval standard length, myotome height, jaw length and yolk size, but not eye diameter or yolk utilization efficiency. Some morphological traits were influenced more by paternity than maternity. The findings suggest that the importance of males in the early life history success of marine fishes be reconsidered.