Variability of biological and population genetic indices in pink salmon, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha transplanted into the White Sea basin

• Published in: Journal of ichthyology Vol. 55; no. 1; pp. 69 - 76
• Main Authors: Gordeeva, N. V., Salmenkova, E. A., Prusov, S. V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow Pleiades Publishing 2015
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Brackish; Life Sciences; Marine; Oncorhynchus gorbuscha; Zoology; PNE, White Sea; microsatellites; pink salmon; adaptation; introduction; fecundity
• ISSN: 0032-9452; 1555-6425
• DOI: 10.1134/S0032945215010051

Phenological traits, size and weight, reproductive, and population genetic characteristics in a number of generations of the pink salmon, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha of odd-year broodline introduced into the White Sea basin are considered. Temporal and spatial variation of the body weight in adult fish and smolts, as well as of the allele frequencies of microsatellite loci, were found. At the same time, general direction of divergence from donor population of Ola River is maintained by a number of important adaptively significant traits, including dates of spawning and downstream migration, sex ratio, egg size and number, as well as the level of genetic diversity. In spite of an increase in the reproductive potential (portion of females and their fecundity), estimations of effective population size account for only tens of individuals, which indicates rather stressful conditions of reproduction in the new range and assumes differential survival rate of progeny of certain families in the early period of development.