Do Gelatinous Skeins Deter Predation of Yellow Perch Eggs?

Female yellow perch (Perca flavescens) spawn once annually and release their eggs within a single, long gelatinous ribbon, or skein.  These skeins are assumed to provide a variety of benefits to perch eggs, potentially including facilitating fertilization, protection from infection, and protection from predation.  Previous studies have shown that some potential predators will not consume yellow perch eggs in a skein, but it is unclear if the eggs themselves or the skein are unappealing to the predators.  In order to examine how the absence of a skein effects perch egg predation, we conducted experiments to determine if predators (specifically round goby, Neogobius melanostomus, and rusty crayfish) will consume yellow perch eggs in or out of a skein.  To evaluate their willingness to consume eggs, we presented potential predators with perch eggs both within a skein and outside of a skein.  Then, to evaluate potential preferences, we simultaneously presented potential predators with a) perch eggs within a skein, b) perch eggs outside of a skein, and c) walleye eggs.  Our results will provide improved understanding of yellow perch reproductive ecology and the utility of gelatinous skeins.