Identification of non-neutral single nucleotide polymorphisms in Bay of Fundy Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

• Main Author: Freamo, Heather Anne
• Other Authors: Boulding, E.G.
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: University of Guelph 2009
• Subjects: Atlantic salmon; inner Bay of Fundy; outer Bay of Fundy; captive breeding program; conservation; single nucleotide polymorphisms; markers; wild Bay of Fundy Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10214/21502

Atlantic salmon populations located within the inner Bay of Fundy (iBoF) have declined during the last two decades, and in 2002 were designated by COSEWIC as endangered. Today, most populations only exist in a captive breeding program managed by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Conservation of iBoF salmon could be improved by the development and use of a method for distinguishing between wild iBoF and wild outer Bay of Fundy (oBoF) salmon. I investigated 320 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) to find markers useful for distinguishing between these two meta-populations. I identified 33 non-neutral SNPs using three FsT outlier detection programs, and then rapidly genotyped sample plates of wild Bay of Fundy (BoF) Atlantic salmon for nine selected non-neutral SNPs using Invader® chemistry. Using these non-neutral SNPs I found significant genetic differentiation between wild iBoF and wild oBoF salmon as well as within wild iBoF salmon.