Identification of palearctic coregonid fish species using mtDNA and allozyme genetic markers

• Published in: Journal of Fish Biology
• Main Authors: Politov, D. V., Gordon, N. Yu., Afanasiev, K. I., Altukhov, Yu. P., Bickham, J. W.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2000
• Subjects: Arctic cisco; pidschian; Muksun
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2000.tb02244.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1095-8649.2000.tb02244.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2000.tb02244.x

Two types of molecular genetic markers were used for genetic identification of species and local stocks of palearctic coregonids (Coregonidae, Salmoniformes, Teleostei). Seven nominate species of whitefishes and ciscoes Coregonus , spp. of Eurasia Arctic Sea basin and inconnu Stenodus leucichthys nelma , represented by specimens from North America were studied. Using restriction analysis of PCR‐amplified products of the ND‐1 gene of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and allelic composition at several allozyme loci discrimination was successful between C. lavaretus pidschian , Siberian whitefish, C. nasus , broad whitefish, C. autumnalis , Arctic cisco, C. migratorius , Baikal omul, C. peled , peled, and C. sardinella , least cisco. Muksun C. muksun , was indistinguishable from Siberian whitefish. Creatine kinase (CK) isozyme patterns and Rsa , I restriction patterns of ND‐1 were the most effective markers allowing discrimination among species. Intra‐specific differentiation in mtDNA was found in all species but was much less pronounced than inter‐species variation. In several specimens composite haplotypes typical of another species were found that reflect probable gene introgression by hybridization. A combination of mtDNA and nuclear genetic markers is suggested for reliable identification of both typical species representatives and hybrids.