Long-term occurrence of hybrids between Japan Sea and Pacific Ocean forms of threespine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus, in Hokkaido Island, Japan

Abstract

The distribution patterns of two genetically divergent forms (Japan Sea and Pacific Ocean forms) of Gasterosteus aculeatus and their hybrids in the Hokkaido Island, Japan were investigated. Hybrid frequencies and the mating pattern of natural F1-hybrids and backcrosses, were examined by using allozyme analysis. The distribution patterns matched those previously reported. All three sympatric localities in eastern Hokkaido Island included hybrids between the two forms in each year examined. A low frequency of hybrids of sticklebacks has been maintained in areas of sympatry of the two forms in Hokkaido Island for several years. The proportion of F1-hybrids was significantly lower than expected by random mating in six samples from four sympatric populations, suggesting form-assortative mating. Mating crosses of natural F1-hybrids existed in both patterns. Natural F1-hybrids backcrossed more frequently with Pacific Ocean form than Japan Sea form. However, the proportions of backcross individuals in two of three samples were not significantly different from the expected proportions by random mating between F1-hybrids and their parent forms. In other samples, despite the Pacific Ocean form predominant in a population, F1-hybrid predominantly backcrossed with the Japan Sea form. These results support the hypothesis of gene flow from Pacific Ocean to Japan Sea forms.