Mitochondrial DNA Restriction Fragment Length Research Articles

Interspecific Mitochondrial DNA Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms in Aspergillus Section Flavi

Mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) are described for 64 isolates, representing 11 species of Aspergillus section Flavi. Mitochondrial DNA haplotypes were identified following digestion of total cellular DNA with the restriction enzymes HaeIII, AseI, or DraI. In general, isolates of the same species possessed identical mitochondrial DNA haplotypes. Three haplotypes were found in multiple, closely related species: one in A. flavus, A. oryzae, and A. subolivaceus; a second in A. parasiticus and A. sojae; and a third in A. tamarii and A. flavofurcatis. Four distinct haplotypes were each associated with a single species: A. nomius, A. avenaceus, A. leporis, and A. zonatus. Mitochondrial DNA haplotypes complement traditional morphological and growth criteria in making taxonomic decisions within Aspergillus section Flavi.

Interspecific mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms in Aspergillus section Flavi

Mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) are described for 64 isolates, representing 11 species of Aspergillus section Flavi. Mitochondrial DNA haplotypes were identified following digestion of total cellular DNA with the restriction enzymes HaeIII, AseI, or DraI. In general, isolates of the same species possessed identical mitochondrial DNA haplotypes. Three haplotypes were found in multiple, closely related species: one in A. flavus, A. oryzae, and A. subolivaceus; a second in A. parasiticus and A. sojae; and a third in A. tamarii and A. flavofurcatis. Four distinct haplotypes were each associated with a single species: A. nomius, A. avenaceus, A. leporis, and A. zonatus. Mitochondrial DNA haplotypes complement traditional morphological and growth criteria in making taxonomic decisions within Aspergillus section Flavi.

Mitochondrial DNA Analysis of Mid-Atlantic Populations of Brook Trout: The Zone of Contact for Major Historical Lineages

We tested the hypotheses that brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis in the mid-Atlantic range are transitional in phylogenetic assemblage structure and that this structure provides evidence for historic, formative geomorphological events in this region. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) restriction fragment length polymorphisms were examined in brook trout from Maryland. Population genetic structure and intraspecific divergence were determined and compared with the results of previous work throughout the mid-Atlantic range of brook trout. A total of 29 mtDNA haplotypes was analyzed, including 15 previously undetected in brook trout. Phylogenetic analysis revealed three major assemblages in Maryland, two east and one west of the Ohio River−Chesapeake Bay drainage divide. Analysis of molecular variance indicated that drainage basins within the two major drainages were the major units of population division. These results suggest that brook trout populations in the mid-Atlantic should be managed as major assemblage groups based on mtDNA descent.

Mitochondrial DNA sequence variation suggests the lack of genetic heterogeneity in the Adriatic and Ionian stocks of Sardina pilchardus.

A genetic stock structure analysis of 11 sardine samples from the Adriatic Sea and Ionian neighboring area was carried out through sequence variation analysis of a 307-bp cytochrome b gene fragment in order to identify self-recruiting units in the Adriatic Sardina pilchardus stock. The overall lack of genetic subdivision among samples detected by analysis of molecular variance, pairwise Phi(st) values, and the exact test of population differentiation indicates this sardine stock is part of a larger self-recruiting population whose boundaries are larger than the investigated area. This conclusion is in agreement with preliminary allozymic and mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism data, but contradicts the previous identification of 2 subpopulations of sardines in the Adriatic Sea argued on morphologic differences, which could be rather attributed to different hydrographic or ecologic conditions occurring in different areas of the Adriatic Sea. The reduced gene flow observed between Adriatic-Ionian and Spanish sardine geographic samples (P < 0.001) suggests that reproductively isolated populations of sardines may occur in the Mediterranean Sea.

Mitochondrial DNA diversity, population structure, and gender association in the gynodioecious plant Silene vulgaris.

A highly variable mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) locus is used to assess the population structure of mitochondrial genomes in the gynodioecious plant Silene vulgaris at two spatial scales. Thirteen mtDNA haplotypes were identified within 250 individuals from 18 populations in a 20-km diameter region of western Virginia. The population structure of these mtDNA haplotypes was estimated as thetaST = 0.574 (+/- 0.066 SE) and, surprisingly, genetic differentiation among populations was negatively correlated with geographic distance (Mantel r = -0.246, P < 0.002). Additionally, mtDNA haplotypes were spatially clumped at the scale of meters within one population. Gender in S. vulgaris is determined by an interaction between autosomal male fertility restorers and cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) factors, and seed fitness is affected by an interaction between gender and population sex ratio; thus, selection acting on gender could influence the distribution of mtDNA RFLP haplotypes. The sex ratio (females:hermaphrodites) varied among mtDNA haplotypes across the entire metapopulation, possibly because the haplotypes were in linkage disequilibrium with different CMS factors. The gender associated with some of the most common haplotypes varied among populations, suggesting that there is also population structure in male fertility restorer genes. In comparison with reports of mtDNA variation from other published studies, we found that S. vulgaris exhibits a large number of mtDNA haplotypes relative to that observed in other species.

Acetaldehyde and ethanol are responsible for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in flor yeasts

Flor yeasts grow and survive in fino sherry wine where the frequency of respiratory-deficient (petite) mutants is very low. Mitochondria from flor yeasts are highly acetaldehyde- and ethanol-tolerant, and resistant to oxidative stress. However, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of mtDNA from flor yeast populations is very high and reflects variability induced by the high concentrations of acetaldehyde and ethanol of sherry wine on mtDNA. mtDNA RFLP increases as the concentration of these compounds also increases, but is followed by a total loss of mtDNA in petite cells. Yeasts with functional mitochondria (grande) are target of continuous variability, so that flor yeast mtDNA can evolve extremely rapidly and may serve as a reservoir of genetic diversity, whereas petite mutants are eventually eliminated because metabolism in sherry wine is oxidative.

MITOCHONDRIAL DNA DIVERSITY, POPULATION STRUCTURE, AND GENDER ASSOCIATION IN THE GYNODIOECIOUS PLANT SILENE VULGARIS

A highly variable mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) locus is used to assess the population structure of mitochondrial genomes in the gynodioecious plant Silene vulgaris at two spatial scales. Thirteen mtDNA haplotypes were identified within 250 individuals from 18 populations in a 20-km diameter region of western Virginia. The population structure of these mtDNA haplotypes was estimated as θST = 0.574 (± 0.066 SE) and, surprisingly, genetic differentiation among populations was negatively correlated with geographic distance (Mantel r = −0.246, P < 0.002). Additionally, mtDNA haplotypes were spatially clumped at the scale of meters within one population. Gender in S. vulgaris is determined by an interaction between autosomal male fertility restorers and cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) factors, and seed fitness is affected by an interaction between gender and population sex ratio; thus, selection acting on gender could influence the distribution of mtDNA RFLP haplotypes. The sex ratio (females:hermaphrodites) varied among mtDNA haplotypes across the entire metapopulation, possibly because the haplotypes were in linkage disequilibrium with different CMS factors. The gender associated with some of the most common haplotypes varied among populations, suggesting that there is also population structure in male fertility restorer genes. In comparison with reports of mtDNA variation from other published studies, we found that S. vulgaris exhibits a large number of mtDNA haplotypes relative to that observed in other species.Corresponding Editor: M. Morgan

Microsatellite DNA analysis of population structure in Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus), with direct comparison to allozyme and mtDNA RFLP analyses

Previous attempts to test for small-scale stock structuring within Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus L.) with molecular markers have been hampered by uninformative levels of genetic variation. Here we report the first application of microsatellite DNA markers to investigate population subdivision in Atlantic herring from Norwegian waters and the Barents Sea, and also examine microsatellite differentiation between C. harengus and Pacific herring (C. pallasi). Results from four microsatellite loci indicate high, and informative, variation compared to molecular markers used previously: number of alleles per locus=18–41; mean expected heterozygosity within samples=0.90–0.93. Significant genetic differences were detected between almost all samples representing postulated Icelandic summer-spawner, Norwegian spring-spawner and Norwegian fjord stocks, using Fisher’s exact test, FST and RST values. Levels of allele frequency differentiation between Atlantic and Pacific herring overlapped the range seen among Atlantic herring samples, indicating that microsatellites are poor indicators of the degree of species differentiation. Comparison with allozyme and mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) datasets from the same samples suggests that microsatellites may detect structuring at a finer scale, but are less informative at larger scales of divergence.

Non-random inheritance of mitochondrial genomes in Citrus hybrids produced by protoplast fusion

Somatic hybridization offers the possibility of manipulating chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes and evaluating their role on cultivar qualities in citrus. Numerous associations between Willow-leaf mandarin (Citrus deliciosa Ten.), as embryogenic parent, and sweet orange cv. Valencia (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osb.), as mesophyll parent, and between Willow-leaf mandarin (embryogenic parent) and grapefruit cv. Duncan (Citrus paradisi Macf.) (mesophyll parent) were obtained by the fusion of protoplasts induced by polyethylene glycol. Regenerated plants were characterized by flow cytometry and nuclear and mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). All plants were diploid. Diploid plants with the nuclear RFLP patterns of mandarin or sweet orange were identified in the progeny between these two parents, while only grapefruit nuclear types were found in the mandarin + grapefruit progeny. The diploid plants with the nuclear profile of the mesophyll parent originated systematically from cells formed through spontaneous association of the nuclear genome of the mesophyll parent and the mitochondrial genome of the embryogenic parent. These plants are assumed to be alloplasmic hybrids or cybrids. They were viable and have been propagated for field testing.

Differentiation of the sudden death syndrome pathogen of soybean, Fusarium solani f.sp. glycines, from other isolates of F. solani based on cultural morphology, pathogenicity, and mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms

Forty-four isolates consisting of Fusarium solani (Mart.) Sacc. f.sp. glycines Roy, Fusarium solani f.sp. phaseoli (Burkholder) W.C. Snyder &amp; H.N. Hans., and F. solani, collected from a variety of hosts and locations, were compared based on pathogenicity on soybean and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs). The 24 isolates of F. solani f.sp. glycines caused more severe sudden death syndrome (SDS) foliar symptoms and root rot on soybean compared with all other isolates. All isolates of F. solani f.sp. glycines belonged to a single mtDNA RFLP haplotype. The other isolates of F. solani belonged to nine mtDNA RFLP haplotypes distinct from that of the SDS pathogen and did not cause significant levels of SDS. Three isolates of F. solani f.sp. phaseoli in a single mtDNA RFLP haplotype were very similar to isolates of F. solani f.sp. glycines in culture. One of these isolates consistently produced SDS-like symptoms in pathogenicity tests, although at a low frequency. Fusarium solani f.sp. glycines represent a genetically distinct subgroup within F. solani but may be related to F. solani f.sp. phaseoli.Key words: Fusarium solani f.sp. phaseoli, Glycine max, sudden death syndrome (SDS), mtDNA.

Phylogeography of the plains killifish, Fundulus zebrinus.

Drainage systems of the Great Plains and western Gulf Slope underwent substantial changes through diversions and stream captures during the Pleistocene, either as the result of the glacial advances or through independent geologic processes. The distributions of a variety of fishes that range across west-central North America, such as the plains killifish (Fundulus zebrinus), are thought to be the product of this Pleistocene influence. We examined the geographic pattern of genetic variation in F. zebrinus using three allozyme loci (n = 793), mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs, n = 352), and sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI, n = 23) in an attempt to understand the roles of dispersal and vicariance. The phylogeographic patterns were concordant between the allozyme and mitochondrial data with the exception of the population in the North Canadian River. The populations fell into three geographic assemblages, which we designated as northern, central, and southern. A large phylogenetic break (average Roger's D = 0.702; average sequence divergence in RFLPs = 4.6%; average sequence divergence in COI = 5.5%) separated the northern/central and southern assemblages. The northern region was likely colonized sometime during the mid-Pleistocene. Fish in the Brazos and Pecos Rivers probably reached these drainages through stream captures of the Red River. The large phylogenetic break between the northern/central and southern clades supports previous attempts to recognize two species of plains killifish: F. zebrinus and F. kansae.

Differentiation of the sudden death syndrome pathogen of soybean, &lt;i&gt;Fusarium solani&lt;/i&gt; f.sp. &lt;i&gt;glycines&lt;/i&gt;, from other isolates of &lt;i&gt;F. solani&lt;/i&gt; based on cultural morphology, pathogenicity, and mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms

Differentiation of the sudden death syndrome pathogen of soybean, &lt;i&gt;Fusarium solani&lt;/i&gt; f.sp. &lt;i&gt;glycines&lt;/i&gt;, from other isolates of &lt;i&gt;F. solani&lt;/i&gt; based on cultural morphology, pathogenicity, and mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms

PHYLOGEOGRAPHY OF THE PLAINS KILLIFISH, FUNDULUS ZEBRINUS

Drainage systems of the Great Plains and western Gulf Slope underwent substantial changes through diversions and stream captures during the Pleistocene, either as the result of the glacial advances or through independent geologic processes. The distributions of a variety of fishes that range across west-central North America, such as the plains killifish (Fundulus zebrinus), are thought to be the product of this Pleistocene influence. We examined the geographic pattern of genetic variation in F. zebrinus using three allozyme loci (n = 793), mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs, n = 352), and sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI, n = 23) in an attempt to understand the roles of dispersal and vicariance. The phylogeographic patterns were concordant between the allozyme and mitochondrial data with the exception of the population in the North Canadian River. The populations fell into three geographic assemblages, which we designated as northern, central, and southern. A large phylogenetic break (average Roger's D = 0.702; average sequence divergence in RFLPs = 4.6%; average sequence divergence in COI = 5.5%) separated the northern/central and southern assemblages. The northern region was likely colonized sometime during the mid-Pleistocene. Fish in the Brazos and Pecos Rivers probably reached these drainages through stream captures of the Red River. The large phylogenetic break between the northern/central and southern clades supports previous attempts to recognize two species of plains killifish: F. zebrinus and F. kansae.

Phylogenetics of freshwater black basses (Centrarchidae: Micropterus) inferred from restriction endonuclease analysis of mitochondrial DNA.

Geographic isolation and habitat specialization has aided in the evolution and genetic integrity of the micropterid bass species of North America. Members of the genus Micropterus form a close natural unit with little morphologic and meristic variation. Our goals were to measure the genetic characteristics of and distances between six black bass species by using mitochondrial DNA analysis. Mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms were examined in Guadalupe bass (M. treculi), largemouth bass (M. salmoides), shoal bass (M. cataractae), smallmouth bass (M. dolomieu), spotted bass (M. punctulatus), and Suwannee bass (M. notius), using 15 restriction endonucleases. The bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) was used as an outgroup. The phylogeny inferred from Dollo parsimony cladistic analysis concurred with published results from allozyme analyses, yet it was inconsistent with published meristic analyses. Genetic distances between species ranged from 0.0659 to 0.2145, with the largemouth and Suwannee basses showing the greatest divergence from the other black basses. The Guadalupe, smallmouth, and spotted basses were most diverged from the bluegill. The black basses diverged over a broad time frame, with estimated black bass speciation occurring during late Miocene-early Pliocene (3.30-10.73 MYA).

Population structure of the wreckfish Polyprion americanus determined with microsatellite genetic markers

We examined population structure in the wreckfish, Polyprion americanus, by assaying six microsatellite loci in 422 individuals collected throughout the geographic range. Eighteen hapuku, P. oxygeneios, were assayed at the same loci for use as an outgroup. Expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.49 to 0.88 and averaged 0.66. Allele-frequency distributions at those loci indicated that samples from the eastern North Atlantic, western North Atlantic and the Mediterranean were genetically similar, confirming the pattern seen in a previous analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs). Both mtDNA and microsatellite studies differentiated northern and southern wreckfish stocks. However, in contrast to the mtDNA studies, allelic variation at microsatellite loci clearly differentiated wreckfish from two Southern Hemisphere locations, Brazil and the South Pacific. Far more genetic variation was observed at microsatellite loci than with mtDNA RFLPs (haplotype diversity averaged 0.01), and we saw more evidence of population structure with the microsatellite loci. The differentiation between southern and northern wreckfish supports the distribution records, which indicate that wreckfish do not occur in the tropics. Temperature profiles and current patterns throughout the southern oceans apparently also prevent significant gene flow between the South Pacific and Brazilian samples.

Host adaptation to potato and tomato within the US−1 clonal lineage of Phytophthora infestans in Uganda and Kenya

Twenty isolates of Phytophthora infestans from potato and twenty‐two from tomato, collected in Uganda and Kenya in 1995, were compared for dilocus allozyme genotype, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotype, mating type and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) fingerprint using probe RG57. Based on RFLP fingerprint and mtDNA haplotype, all isolates were classified in the US−1 clonal lineage. Nonetheless, isolates from potato differed from isolates from tomato in several characteristics. Isolates from potato had the 86/100 glucose‐6‐phosphate isomerase (Gpi) genotype, while those from tomato were 100/100, which represents a variant of US−1 that had been identified previously as US−1.7. Furthermore, while pure cultures of the pathogen were acquired from infected potato leaflets by first growing the isolates on potato tuber slices, this approach failed with infected tomato tissue because the isolates grew poorly on this medium. Tomato isolates were eventually purified using a selective medium. Six isolates from each host were compared for the diameter of lesions they produced on three tomato and three potato cultivars in one or two detached‐leaf assays (four isolates from the first test were repeated in the second). On potato leaflets, isolates from potato caused larger lesions than isolates from tomato. On tomato leaflets, isolates from that host caused larger lesions than did isolates from potato, but the difference was significant in only one test. The interaction between source of inoculum (potato or tomato) and inoculated host (potato or tomato) was significant in both tests. Isolates from tomato were highly biotrophic on tomato leaflets, producing little or no necrosis during the seven days following infection, even though abundant sporulation could be seen. In contrast, isolates from potato sporulated less abundantly on tomato leaflets and produced darkly pigmented lesions that were most visible on the adaxial side of the leaflets. Nonetheless, all isolates infected and sporulated on both hosts, indicating that host adaptation is not determined by an ability to cause disease but rather by quantitative differences in pathogenic fitness. Assessment of Gpi banding patterns, mtDNA haplotype and RFLP fingerprint of 39 isolates from potato collected in Uganda and Kenya in 1997 indicated that the population had not changed on this host. The population of P. infestans from Kenya and Uganda provides an interesting model for the study of quantitative host adaptation.

Multiple lineages of the mitochondrial DNA introgression fromPungitius pungitius(L.) toPungitius tymensis(Nikolsky)

We applied mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis to trace the maternal lineages and compare the intrapopulation mtDNA variabilities of two ninespine stickleback species, Pungitius pungitius (L.) and Pungitius tymensis (Nikolsky), in which occasional natural hybridization was detected. mtDNA phylogenies constructed by neighbor-joining and Wagner parsimony methods resolved two divergent clades differing by an average nucleotide divergence of 5.94%. All P. pungitius mtDNA haplotypes fall within a single clade. In contrast, P. tymensis appeared paraphyletic; nine of the 13 mtDNA haplotypes found in P. tymensis were grouped within the P. pungitius clade, but the remaining four were of the other clade. The former nine mtDNA variants were very close to the sympatric P. pungitius mtDNA halotypes. These observations suggest that the nine P. tymensis haplotypes originated and introgressed from sympatric P. pungitius and that the introgressed mtDNA haplotypes have a polyphyletic origin in each region. The high incidences of the mtDNA introgression in northern and central Hokkaido may be due to a warmer climate than that of the other regions. The recipient P. tymensis populations had significantly higher mtDNA variation than those observed in the sympatric donor species populations, suggesting the sudden population growth during or after the mtDNA substitution processes.

Regional Population Diversity of Pyricularia grisea in Arkansas and the Influence of Host Selection

MGR586 DNA fingerprinting has been widely used to characterize population diversity of the rice blast pathogen, Pyricularia grisea. However, the frequency and distribution of particular haplotypes (individuals) within MGR-delimited lineages has not been examined in the United States. MGR586 DNA fingerprinting, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLPs), and virulence phenotyping were used to examine genetic diversity of P. grisea in Arkansas. A total of 470 monoconidial isolates were recovered from eight rice cultivars in 18 commercial fields in nine counties in Arkansas. All isolates were examined for nuclear DNA RFLPs with the MGR586 DNA fingerprint probe, and both the MGR lineage (isolates with >80% similarity) and the haplotype frequencies were determined. Four distinct MGR586 DNA fingerprint lineages (designated A, B, C, and D) were identified among the 470 field isolates. All four lineages were found in 9 of the 18 locations. Three lineages were found in four locations, two lineages in three locations, and only a single lineage was found at two locations. In all, 10, 19, 16, and 13 haplotypes (isolates which had MGR586 DNA fingerprints which differed by 1 to 20%) were identified within lineages A, B, C, and D, respectively, among the 470 isolates examined. Within each lineage, a single haplotype (clone) predominated, representing 51 to 71% of the isolates collected for each of the four lineages. Overall, 60% of the 470 isolates belonged to one of only four haplotypes (A1, B1, C1, and D1) and these four predominant haplotypes were recovered from between 7 and 14 of the 18 locations sampled, indicating a widespread distribution of these four clones. These data indicate an exceptionally low level of genetic diversity in the regional rice blast pathogen population in Arkansas relative to several other populations of P. grisea examined from tropical environments. In addition, no mtDNA RFLPs were detected among representative haplotypes within each of the lineages, indicating a single mtDNA haplotype was present in the population. Examination of virulence indicated that two races predominated in the regional collection. All 30 isolates in lineages A and C tested had an IB-49 virulence phenotype. Out of 30 isolates in lineages B and D, 29 had an IC-17 virulence phenotype. One isolate in lineage B, isolated from a highly susceptible cultivar (L201), had an IG-1 virulence phenotype. The frequencies of the four lineages varied among the locations sampled and may have been due, in part, to the cultivar from which isolates were recovered. A single lineage was recovered from two cultivars, Mars and Millie. Although only a single field of each of these cultivars was sampled, the data indicate that certain cultivars grown in Arkansas may serve as a "bottleneck", selecting out specific lineages in the regional population. To test this hypothesis, an additional 283 isolates were recovered from replicated plots of cvs. M204 and Mars located within commercial rice fields at two locations during two seasons. All four MGR586 lineages were recovered from each location. However, there was a strong bias for lineage B on cv. M204 (79% of all isolates) and a strong bias for lineage A on cv. Mars (95% of all isolates), indicating some cultivars were effective in excluding certain lineages.

Analysis of mitochondrial DNA of an endangered beech species, Fagus hayatae Palibin ex Hayata

Mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms were used to examine cytoplasmic diversity within a relic-like population of Fagus hayatae, located in northern Taiwan. Fifteen trees were surveyed for three restriction endonucleases (BamHI, EcoRI and HindIII) and five mitochondrial gene probes (atpA, atp6, atp9, coxI and coxII). The analysis failed to reveal any polymorphisms, an observation that suggests cytoplasmic uniformity in the F. hayatae population examined. It is also interesting to note that the chondriome type of our F. hayatae samples is very close to that characteristic of F. crenata populations in the southernmost area of Japan.

Genetic Population Structure and Mixed-Stock Analysis of Walleyes in the Lake Erie–Lake Huron Corridor using Allozyme and Mitochondrial DNA Markers

We used allozymes and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) restriction fragment length polymorphisms to determine if spawning populations of walleyes Stizostedion vitreum from the Lake Erie–Lake Huron corridor are genetically differentiated and to estimate their contributions to a commercial fishery in southern Lake Huron (operated by Purdy Fisheries) in 1994 and 1995. Both types of genetic markers detected significant differentiation among walleyes collected from different sites, suggesting that fish from Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair, and Lake Huron are not a single, genetically homogeneous population. The combined use of both marker systems detected the greatest differentiation in pairwise comparisons of samples. Although some exceptions were detected, both marker types suggest a relationship between geographic proximity and genetic differentiation. The fish from Purdy Fisheries caught throughout 1994 had highly significantly different haplotype frequencies (mtDNA) but not allele frequencies (allozymes) from those caught throughout 1995. The estimated contributions of walleyes from different spawning sites to the catch from Purdy Fisheries varied little between years. Most estimates were significantly greater than zero, indicating that all sites contributed at some level and none should be ignored in management considerations. The mixed-stock analysis was robust when factors affecting bias and precision were evaluated.