A Benchmark for Atlantic Salmon Conservation: Genetic Diversity and Structure in a Southern European Glacial Refuge before the Climate Changed
Atlantic salmon Salmo salar supports highly valuable commercial and recreational fisheries in Europe, but its stocks are currently overexploited and threatened by climate change. Its southernmost populations (in northern Spain) play a key role in conserving the species’ original genetic diversity, w...
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2023
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:57e2c4ae573449b181206767ab2163dc 2023-07-23T04:18:22+02:00 A Benchmark for Atlantic Salmon Conservation: Genetic Diversity and Structure in a Southern European Glacial Refuge before the Climate Changed Ana Almodóvar Graciela G. Nicola Daniel Ayllón Sheila Leal Daniel F. Marchán Benigno Elvira 2023-06-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes8060321 https://doaj.org/article/57e2c4ae573449b181206767ab2163dc EN eng MDPI AG https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/8/6/321 https://doaj.org/toc/2410-3888 doi:10.3390/fishes8060321 2410-3888 https://doaj.org/article/57e2c4ae573449b181206767ab2163dc Fishes, Vol 8, Iss 321, p 321 (2023) climate change conservation genetics effective population size stocking genetic variability introgression Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Genetics QH426-470 article 2023 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes8060321 2023-07-02T00:38:22Z Atlantic salmon Salmo salar supports highly valuable commercial and recreational fisheries in Europe, but its stocks are currently overexploited and threatened by climate change. Its southernmost populations (in northern Spain) play a key role in conserving the species’ original genetic diversity, which is endangered due to decades-long (1970s to 1990s) massive stocking with non-native stocks. Their decline is well documented, but the effect of stock transfer and conservation efforts is unclear. Nine microsatellite loci were amplified from archival samples (scales from 1958–1959) from eight Spanish rivers to analyse the species’ natural genetic dynamics before its decline started. Allelic richness was high in the historical populations (the 1950s) and above most contemporary estimates. Private alleles were found in most rivers, indicating high local uniqueness and relative isolation among river basins. Some alleles are regional markers since they are rare or absent from contemporary northern European populations. Effective population size suggested good conservation status, with higher values than those estimated for contemporary populations. Strong population structure and genetic differentiation between rivers were found, with limited gene flow, restricted to geographically close populations. Our estimates of historical genetic diversity and structure from southernmost salmon populations are a powerful benchmark to guide conservation programs. Article in Journal/Newspaper Atlantic salmon Salmo salar Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Fishes 8 6 321 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
climate change conservation genetics effective population size stocking genetic variability introgression Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Genetics QH426-470 |
spellingShingle |
climate change conservation genetics effective population size stocking genetic variability introgression Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Genetics QH426-470 Ana Almodóvar Graciela G. Nicola Daniel Ayllón Sheila Leal Daniel F. Marchán Benigno Elvira A Benchmark for Atlantic Salmon Conservation: Genetic Diversity and Structure in a Southern European Glacial Refuge before the Climate Changed |
topic_facet |
climate change conservation genetics effective population size stocking genetic variability introgression Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Genetics QH426-470 |
description |
Atlantic salmon Salmo salar supports highly valuable commercial and recreational fisheries in Europe, but its stocks are currently overexploited and threatened by climate change. Its southernmost populations (in northern Spain) play a key role in conserving the species’ original genetic diversity, which is endangered due to decades-long (1970s to 1990s) massive stocking with non-native stocks. Their decline is well documented, but the effect of stock transfer and conservation efforts is unclear. Nine microsatellite loci were amplified from archival samples (scales from 1958–1959) from eight Spanish rivers to analyse the species’ natural genetic dynamics before its decline started. Allelic richness was high in the historical populations (the 1950s) and above most contemporary estimates. Private alleles were found in most rivers, indicating high local uniqueness and relative isolation among river basins. Some alleles are regional markers since they are rare or absent from contemporary northern European populations. Effective population size suggested good conservation status, with higher values than those estimated for contemporary populations. Strong population structure and genetic differentiation between rivers were found, with limited gene flow, restricted to geographically close populations. Our estimates of historical genetic diversity and structure from southernmost salmon populations are a powerful benchmark to guide conservation programs. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Ana Almodóvar Graciela G. Nicola Daniel Ayllón Sheila Leal Daniel F. Marchán Benigno Elvira |
author_facet |
Ana Almodóvar Graciela G. Nicola Daniel Ayllón Sheila Leal Daniel F. Marchán Benigno Elvira |
author_sort |
Ana Almodóvar |
title |
A Benchmark for Atlantic Salmon Conservation: Genetic Diversity and Structure in a Southern European Glacial Refuge before the Climate Changed |
title_short |
A Benchmark for Atlantic Salmon Conservation: Genetic Diversity and Structure in a Southern European Glacial Refuge before the Climate Changed |
title_full |
A Benchmark for Atlantic Salmon Conservation: Genetic Diversity and Structure in a Southern European Glacial Refuge before the Climate Changed |
title_fullStr |
A Benchmark for Atlantic Salmon Conservation: Genetic Diversity and Structure in a Southern European Glacial Refuge before the Climate Changed |
title_full_unstemmed |
A Benchmark for Atlantic Salmon Conservation: Genetic Diversity and Structure in a Southern European Glacial Refuge before the Climate Changed |
title_sort |
benchmark for atlantic salmon conservation: genetic diversity and structure in a southern european glacial refuge before the climate changed |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes8060321 https://doaj.org/article/57e2c4ae573449b181206767ab2163dc |
genre |
Atlantic salmon Salmo salar |
genre_facet |
Atlantic salmon Salmo salar |
op_source |
Fishes, Vol 8, Iss 321, p 321 (2023) |
op_relation |
https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/8/6/321 https://doaj.org/toc/2410-3888 doi:10.3390/fishes8060321 2410-3888 https://doaj.org/article/57e2c4ae573449b181206767ab2163dc |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes8060321 |
container_title |
Fishes |
container_volume |
8 |
container_issue |
6 |
container_start_page |
321 |
_version_ |
1772180653651001344 |