Archival and modern DNA SNP data of 13 Baltic salmon populations

• Main Author: Östergren, Johan
• Format: Dataset
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: Atlantic salmon
• Online Access: https://zenodo.org/record/4554148; https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.2bvq83bpb

Intra-species genetic homogenization arising from anthropogenic impacts is a major threat for biodiversity. However, few taxa have sufficient historical material to systematically quantify long-term genetic changes. Using archival DNA collected over ~100 years, we assessed spatio-temporal genetic change in Atlantic salmon populations across the Baltic Sea, an area heavily impacted by hydropower exploitation and associated large-scale mitigation stocking. Analysis was carried out by screening 82 SNPs in 1680 individuals from 13 Swedish rivers. We found an overall decrease in genetic divergence and diminished isolation by distance among populations, strongly indicating genetic homogenization over the past century. We further observed an increase in genetic diversity within populations consistent with increased gene flow. Temporal genetic change was lower in larger wild populations than in smaller wild and hatchery-reared ones, indicating that larger populations have been able to support a high number of native spawners in relation to immigrants. Our results demonstrate that stocking practices of salmon in the Baltic Sea have led to homogenization of populations over the last century, potentially compromising their ability to adapt to environmental change. Stocking of reared fish is common worldwide and our study is a cautionary example of the potentially long-term negative effects of such activities. Funding provided by: Svenska Forskningsrådet FormasCrossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001862Award Number: 2013-1288