Reintroduction of Atlantic salmon in Lake Ontario: the Implications of Genetic Quality on Individual Fitness

• Main Author: Audet, Chantal
• Format: Master Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: University of Windsor 2015
• Subjects: Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar
• Online Access: https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/etd/5519; https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/context/etd/article/6518/viewcontent/Audet.pdf

The genetic health of hatchery broodstock is important for the success of conservation management strategies. This thesis examined the genetic quality of the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) broodstock used in the Lake Ontario reintroduction effort by examining the potential for outbreeding depression in F1 juvenile hybrids using a full-factorial breeding design. This study did not find evidence to support the occurrence of outbreeding depression in hybrids. This thesis also examined the relationship between genetic and gamete quality in a strain used in the Lake Ontario restoration effort. Although negative correlations were found between heterozygosity and sperm velocity and longevity, the correlations explained limited variance. Overall, there was little evidence to support the existence of correlations between gamete quality and heterozygosity in Atlantic salmon. This study is the first step into looking at potential implications of stocking multiple stains of Atlantic salmon and assessing the correlation between genetic and reproductive quality in their broodstock.