Using Plasma Vitellogenin Levels to Predict Reproductive Success of Reconditioned Steelhead Kelts in an Artificial Spawning Channel

We examined the reproductive success of reconditioned kelts placed in an artificial spawning channel. Post-spawn kelts were captured in the spring at the Chandler Juvenile Collection Facility on the Yakima River and reconditioned for 3-4 months. Prior to release, fish were categorized as either maturing or non maturing based on blood vitellogenin levels. Fish were then released into the artificial spawning channel to over-winter until spawning the following spring. Parents and progeny were sampled for genetic analysis using a suite of microsatellite markers. Parentage assignment allowed a comparison of relative reproductive success of fish assigned as either maturing or non maturing based on the blood vitellogenin levels.