Population genetics of Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) in the upper Athabasca River basin

Abstract Freshwater ecosystems are negatively impacted by a variety of anthropogenic stressors, with concomitant elevated rates of population decline for freshwater aquatic vertebrates. Because reductions in population size and extent can negatively impact genetic diversity and gene flow, which are...

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Published in:Ecology and Evolution
Main Authors: Emma K. T. Carroll, Steven M. Vamosi
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8110
https://doaj.org/article/391854d7d8904100a5daecbb6001eb2b
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spelling ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:391854d7d8904100a5daecbb6001eb2b 2023-05-15T15:26:00+02:00 Population genetics of Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) in the upper Athabasca River basin Emma K. T. Carroll Steven M. Vamosi 2021-11-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8110 https://doaj.org/article/391854d7d8904100a5daecbb6001eb2b EN eng Wiley https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8110 https://doaj.org/toc/2045-7758 2045-7758 doi:10.1002/ece3.8110 https://doaj.org/article/391854d7d8904100a5daecbb6001eb2b Ecology and Evolution, Vol 11, Iss 21, Pp 14509-14520 (2021) Bull Trout conservation microsatellites population genetics population structure Salvelinus Ecology QH540-549.5 article 2021 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8110 2022-12-31T11:36:02Z Abstract Freshwater ecosystems are negatively impacted by a variety of anthropogenic stressors, with concomitant elevated rates of population decline for freshwater aquatic vertebrates. Because reductions in population size and extent can negatively impact genetic diversity and gene flow, which are vital for sustained local adaptation, it is important to measure these characteristics in threatened species that may yet be rescued from extinction. Across its native range, Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) extent and abundance are in decline due to historic overharvest, invasive non‐native species, and habitat loss. In Alberta's Eastern Slope region, populations at the range margin have progressively been lost, motivating us to better understand the amount and distribution of genetic variation in headwater habitats and some downstream sites where they continue to persist. Across this region, we sampled 431 Bull Trout from 20 sites in the Athabasca and Saskatchewan River basins and assayed 10 microsatellite loci to characterize within‐ and among‐population genetic variation. The Saskatchewan and Athabasca River basins contained similar levels of heterozygosity but were differentiated from one another. Within the Athabasca River basin, five genetically differentiated clusters were found. Despite the evidence for genetic differentiation, we did not observe significant isolation‐by‐distance patterns among these sites. Our findings of ample genetic diversity and no evidence for hybridization with non‐native Brook Trout in headwater habitats provide motivation to ameliorate downstream habitats and remove anthropogenic barriers to connectivity towards the goal of long‐term persistence of this species. Article in Journal/Newspaper Athabasca River Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Athabasca River Ecology and Evolution 11 21 14509 14520
institution Open Polar
collection Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles
op_collection_id ftdoajarticles
language English
topic Bull Trout
conservation
microsatellites
population genetics
population structure
Salvelinus
Ecology
QH540-549.5
spellingShingle Bull Trout
conservation
microsatellites
population genetics
population structure
Salvelinus
Ecology
QH540-549.5
Emma K. T. Carroll
Steven M. Vamosi
Population genetics of Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) in the upper Athabasca River basin
topic_facet Bull Trout
conservation
microsatellites
population genetics
population structure
Salvelinus
Ecology
QH540-549.5
description Abstract Freshwater ecosystems are negatively impacted by a variety of anthropogenic stressors, with concomitant elevated rates of population decline for freshwater aquatic vertebrates. Because reductions in population size and extent can negatively impact genetic diversity and gene flow, which are vital for sustained local adaptation, it is important to measure these characteristics in threatened species that may yet be rescued from extinction. Across its native range, Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) extent and abundance are in decline due to historic overharvest, invasive non‐native species, and habitat loss. In Alberta's Eastern Slope region, populations at the range margin have progressively been lost, motivating us to better understand the amount and distribution of genetic variation in headwater habitats and some downstream sites where they continue to persist. Across this region, we sampled 431 Bull Trout from 20 sites in the Athabasca and Saskatchewan River basins and assayed 10 microsatellite loci to characterize within‐ and among‐population genetic variation. The Saskatchewan and Athabasca River basins contained similar levels of heterozygosity but were differentiated from one another. Within the Athabasca River basin, five genetically differentiated clusters were found. Despite the evidence for genetic differentiation, we did not observe significant isolation‐by‐distance patterns among these sites. Our findings of ample genetic diversity and no evidence for hybridization with non‐native Brook Trout in headwater habitats provide motivation to ameliorate downstream habitats and remove anthropogenic barriers to connectivity towards the goal of long‐term persistence of this species.
format Article in Journal/Newspaper
author Emma K. T. Carroll
Steven M. Vamosi
author_facet Emma K. T. Carroll
Steven M. Vamosi
author_sort Emma K. T. Carroll
title Population genetics of Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) in the upper Athabasca River basin
title_short Population genetics of Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) in the upper Athabasca River basin
title_full Population genetics of Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) in the upper Athabasca River basin
title_fullStr Population genetics of Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) in the upper Athabasca River basin
title_full_unstemmed Population genetics of Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) in the upper Athabasca River basin
title_sort population genetics of bull trout (salvelinus confluentus) in the upper athabasca river basin
publisher Wiley
publishDate 2021
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8110
https://doaj.org/article/391854d7d8904100a5daecbb6001eb2b
geographic Athabasca River
geographic_facet Athabasca River
genre Athabasca River
genre_facet Athabasca River
op_source Ecology and Evolution, Vol 11, Iss 21, Pp 14509-14520 (2021)
op_relation https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8110
https://doaj.org/toc/2045-7758
2045-7758
doi:10.1002/ece3.8110
https://doaj.org/article/391854d7d8904100a5daecbb6001eb2b
op_doi https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8110
container_title Ecology and Evolution
container_volume 11
container_issue 21
container_start_page 14509
op_container_end_page 14520
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