Phylogeography of brook charr, Salvelinus fontinalis, in North America, based upon mitochondrial DNA variation

• Main Author: Allen, Heather Nicole
• Other Authors: Danzmann, Roy G.
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: University of Guelph 2001
• Subjects: Salvelinus fontinalis; Brook charr; North America; DNA variation; Phylogeography; Arctic charr; Arctic; Salvelinus alpinus
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10214/19600

PCR amplified mitochondrial DNA of the control region and cytochrome b gene of brook charr ('Salvelinus fontinalis') sampled from 92 North American populations was sequenced to examine phylogenetic affinities among populations and assess the congruency of the data to previously reported RFLP data (Danzmann et al. 1998). Sequence data was analyzed using distance matrix and parsimony methods. Support for retention of clades C, D, E and F from the previously reported phylogenetic assemblages was obtained. Weaker support was provided for the retention of clades A and B, which have more northerly geographic distributions. Clade A and B populations exhibit lower levels of genetic divergence, probably due to historical bottlenecks in their founding populations during Pleistocene glaciation events. At least two (and possibly three) glacial refugia contributed to post-glacial recolonization events. Outgroup analysis using Arctic charr ('Salvelinus alpinus') suggests that the most widespread brook chaff phylogenetic assemblage (clade B) is ancestral.