Introgression of non-native mitochondrial haplotypes from farmed to wild Atlantic salmon

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• Main Authors: Wacker, Sebastian, Bolstad, Geir Hysing, Diserud, Ola Håvard, Hindar, Kjetil, Karlsson, Sten
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: Atlantic salmon; aquaculture; genetic introgression; Salmo salar; phylogeny; haplotypes; VDP::Zoologiske og botaniske fag: 480; VDP::Zoology and botany: 480; White Sea
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3132784; https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2023-0044

Farmed salmon escape and interbreed with wild Atlantic salmon on a large scale. We studied introgression of mitochondrial haplotypes from farmed Atlantic salmon originating from the Eastern Atlantic phylogenetic group to wild salmon of the Barents-White Sea (BWS) phylogenetic group. We find that farmed genetic introgression introduced novel, non-native haplotypes into the BWS phylogenetic group. The mitochondrial genome has important functional effects and is inherited as a haploid from the mother. Hence, the observed introgression across natural genetic barriers is expected to cause long-lasting functional maladaptation of the hybrids in the maternal line. As the use of farmed Atlantic salmon from non-native phylogenetic groups is widespread in aquaculture, the impact on wild Atlantic salmon may be more severe than previously recognized. Our results highlight the ecological risks of releasing non-native wild and domesticated animals. Atlantic salmon, aquaculture, genetic introgression, Salmo salar, phylogeny, haplotypes publishedVersion