Morphological diversity of odd generations of the north sea pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)

Abstract

The analysis of variation of indicators of morphological diversity of three odd generations in the largest North-Okhotsk population of pink salmon of the Ola river (Tauy Bay) is carried out. The variation of morphological diversity in the samples collected from the beginning to the end of the spawning course in the Ola river has a two-vertex character — starting from the first sample to the next one, there is an increase in values, however, in the mid-spawning course, there is a decline, then again some growth. The reason for the detected variation in the indicator of marine diversity is the presence of two races in the population of the pink salmon of the Ola river — early and late. The linear diversity of male pink salmon according to the combined data for all years of research (µ = 18,52 ± 0,329) was higher than that of females (µ = 12,42 ± 0.269) (t = 14,49, p < 0,05). The weight diversity of males was also significantly higher (µ = 16,98 ± 0,330) than in females (µ = 11,14 ± 0,241), (t = 16,69, p < 0,05). The marked differences in the indicators of morphological diversity between females and males can be explained in the framework of the evolutionary theory of sex V. Geodakian. Artificial breeding of pink salmon at a fish breeding plant can have a significant impact on the morphological diversity of a mixed population.