An electrophoretic and biometric study of Arctic charr, Salvelinm alpinus (L.), from ten British lakes

Abstract

Samples of Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus (L.), were collected from the eight Cumbrian lakes containing all the known English populations. Comparative material was obtained from North Wales and southern Scotland. Comparisons were performed using otolith ages, meristic and morphological characters and by assessing allele frequencies for serum esterase and for skeletal muscle malate dehydrogenase. The results confirm that both basins of Windermere contain spring and autumn spawning races of charr. As well as differing genetically and exhibiting differing growth rates, the two races have different mean gill raker numbers and mean gill raker lengths. The latter two variables were used to derive a discriminant function which enables individual charr to be ascribed to the correct race with 94‐96% accuracy. Within both principal races there were further significant differences between charr from the north and south basins of the lake and possibly also between different spawning grounds within each basin. Variation between six of the remaining seven Cumbrian populations is significant but generally no greater than that between the Windermere spring and autumn spawners. The exception is the Ennerdale charr which stands out on morphological, meristic and genetic characters, has a rapid growth rate despite its oligotrophic environment, and is a river rather than a lake spawner. The charr from North Wales and southern Scotland were clearly distinct, both from each other and from the English populations.