The effect of multiple spawning events on cohort genetic diversity of lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) in the Kaministiquia River

Abstract

Lake sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens populations have experienced declines throughout much of the Great Lakes. Understanding key demographic characteristics about lake sturgeon populations can help identify potential limiting factors to their recovery. Within a single spawning season, there may be multiple spawning events, which could affect genetic diversity of the resulting cohort. Our objective was to determine whether multiple discrete spawning events resulted in a larger effective number of breeders and higher genetic diversity. Larval samples were collected following the spawning periods in 2005 (n = 479) and 2006 (n = 279). In 2005, there were two discrete spawning events and a longer spawning season; in 2006, the spawning events were less discrete and the spawning season was shorter. Genetic samples from larval sturgeon were analyzed at 12 microsatellite loci. The effective number of breeders (Nb), genetic diversity (observed heterozygosity, expected heterozygosity, allelic richness, inbreeding coefficient), and relatedness were measured for each cohort. The effective population size (Ne) and genetic diversity were also measured in the adult population (n = 85). The larval cohorts had a high Nb (2005: 54; 2006: 73) relative to the Ne of the adult population (Ne = 28). Multiple spawning events did not result in more breeders, but did result in lower relatedness among the resulting offspring. Therefore, environmental factors should be maintained that encourage an extended spawning season, increasing the likelihood of multiple spawning events and decreasing the relatedness among individuals in the cohort.