Predicting the growth of age-0 yellow perch populations from measures of whole-lake productivity

1. The relationship was examined between four measures of lake productivity [total phosphorus (TP) and chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentrations, zooplankton density and biomass] and growth in length and weight of age‐0 yellow perch in ten central Alberta lakes. 2. In these lakes, average summer TP and Chl a levels were in the range 11–51 and 1.4–19.5 μg1−1, respectively. The interaction of TP and Chl a could explain 61% and 57% of the variance in total length and wet weight, respectively, of age‐0 yellow perch sampled at the end of August. 3. The ability to predict first year fish growth from lake productivity is strongest at low levels of productivity (TP35μg1−1), and more data on complex community level interactions seem necessary to predict fish growth in these systems.