Genetic Differentiation of Subpopulations of Sockeye Salmon ( Oncorhynchus nerka) Within Lakes of Alaska, British Columbia, and Kamchatka, Russia

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• Main Authors: Varnavskaya, Nataly V., Wood, Chris C., Everett, Rebecca J., Wilmot, Richard L., Varnavsky, Vladimir S., Midanaya, Victoria V., Quinn, T. P.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1994
• Subjects: Kamchatka; Alaska
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f94-301; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f94-301

Genetic differentiation among subpopulations of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) was investigated within nine intensively sampled lake systems located throughout the species' range using allozyme allelic frequency data collected by researchers in Canada, Russia, and the United States. Allelic frequencies at up to nine highly polymorphic loci were used to examine genetic diversity among 163 samples collected from 68 distinct spawning sites and to identify subpopulation structure within lakes. Significant heterogeneity was detected among sites within all lakes. The greatest differentiation was evident among subpopulations exhibiting different run timing (earlier vs. later) or utilizing different spawning habitat (tributary vs. littoral). These findings indicate that sockeye home precisely to natal streams, not just to lake systems, and underscore the importance of conserving individual spawning sites within sockeye populations.