Genetic Similarity among Endemic Arctic Char ( Salvelinus alpinus ) and Implications for Their Management

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• Main Authors: Kornfield, Irv, Beland, Kenneth F., Moring, John R., Kircheis, Frederick W.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1981
• Subjects: Aquatic Science; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Arctic; Northwest Territories; Canada; Salvelinus alpinus
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f81-005; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f81-005

Five isolated populations of landlocked Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) from eastern United States and Canada were compared electrophoretically with anadromous Arctic char from the Northwest Territories. Mean heterozygosity was relatively low (0.03) with allelic variation observed at 7 of the 26 isozyme loci examined. The Sunapee and blueback char of Maine, and the Quebec red char of Parc des Laurentides, Québec, were very similar (I N = 0.925–0.999). The genetic differences separating these eastern North American char are probably of limited evolutionary consequence. However, we consider it prudent to characterize these endemics as potentially threatened unique populations and suggest that conservative management is warranted.Key words: Salvelinus alpinus, endemic populations, electrophoresis, species management