Temporal Genetic Stability Research Articles

Temporal genetic homogeneity among shore crab (Carcinus maenas) larval events supplied to an estuarine system on the Portuguese northwest coast.

Despite the importance of larval biology in the life histories of many marine animals, relatively little information exists on the dynamics and genetic composition of larval cohorts. The supply of megalopae larvae of the shore crab, Carcinus maenas, was measured on a daily basis during 8 months spread along two larval periods (2006 and 2007) at the Ria de Aveiro estuary, on the Portuguese northwest coast. A total of 10 microsatellite DNA loci were employed to explore the genetic structure, variability and relatedness of temporally distinct megalopal events, selected from the major pulses of supply. Larval variation was also compared genetically with that of a previously studied adult crabs sample, at the same loci, collected in 2006 and 2007 along the Iberian Peninsula. Results revealed a lack of genetic differentiation and identical diversity levels among larval events over time. No evidence of reduced genetic diversity between megalopae relative to the diversity assessed from the pooled sample of adults was found. Moreover, there was no evidence of any family relatedness among larvae from temporal events. The results obtained for C. maenas contradict predictions made by the sweepstakes reproduction hypothesis, in which large variance in reproductive success is expected, which is presumably detectable as sharp genetic discontinuities among separate larval events. Data here indicate conversely a high degree of temporal genetic stability among larval supply to a given estuary under variable oceanographic conditions, consistent with the hypothesis that sampled larvae were drawn from a large number of adults that do not differ in reproductive success.

Large effective population size and temporal genetic stability in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence

Worldwide, many commercial fish stocks have experienced dramatic declines due to overfishing. Such fisheries-induced population reductions could potentially erode the genetic diversity of marine fish populations. Based on analyses of DNA extracted from archived and contemporary samples, this paper compares the genetic variability at nine microsatellite loci in a Canadian population of Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua ) over 80 years, spanning from before the fishery intensified to now when the population is at historically low abundance. Extensively validated genetic data from the temporally spaced samples were used to estimate the effective population size. Over the period, we observed no loss of either heterozygosity or allelic diversity. Several of the estimation methods applied could not distinguish the effective population size from infinity, and the lower 95% confidence limit on estimates was generally >500, suggesting that the effective population size is probably considerably larger than this. Hence, it appears that the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence cod stock has maintained genetic variability to sustain future evolution despite a dramatic population decline.

The population genetic structure of a common tropical damselfish on the Great Barrier Reef and eastern Papua New Guinea

Understanding patterns of connectivity in marine species is vital for the management and conservation of marine biodiversity. Here, the population genetic structure of a common and abundant tropical reef damselfish, Pomacentrus amboinensis, is reported. Using nine polymorphic microsatellite loci, the genetic structure at both small (i.e., around Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef [GBR]) and large (GBR and Papua New Guinea [PNG]) spatial and temporal scales (2–1,600 km; 28 days– 6 years; n = 1,119) was analyzed. Temporal analyses found no evidence of genetic differentiation within or between Lizard Island recruitment pulses (R ST = −0.001, P = 0.788), or corresponding established adult populations separated by 6 years of sampling (R ST = 0.003, P = 0.116). The spatial analysis revealed that P. amboinensis populations are largely panmictic on the GBR and eastern PNG (R ST = 0.001, P = 0.913), the only genetic discontinuity being between Kimbe Bay to the north of PNG and all populations south of PNG (R ST = 0.077, P < 0.0001). Despite assumed high levels of self-recruitment based on previous tagging studies (15–60%), data presented here indicate that enough recruits are dispersing to impede the evolution of genetic structure over distances as great as 1,600 kms in this species. Data therefore indicate that the temporal genetic stability recorded here is maintained by high levels of gene flow.

Spawning groups of European anchovy: population structure and management implications

AbstractSanz, N., García-Marín, J-L., Viñas, J., Roldán, M., and Pla, C. 2008. Spawning groups of European anchovy: population structure and management implications. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 1635–1644. Samples of Engraulis encrasicolus from the western Mediterranean and the eastern Atlantic spawning groups were examined by protein electrophoresis to investigate their relevance in the genetic structure of European anchovy, and how they fit with the current definition of anchovy fisheries. Samples from an earlier study were also included in the analyses to assess the temporal genetic stability of spawning groups. Gene diversity analysis indicated greater differentiation between spawning groups within seas (GRS = 0.046) than between seas (GSEA = 0.022), and lesser differentiation between locations within spawning groups (GLR = 0.003), as well as genetic stability of spawning groups (GCL = 0.002). The six spawning groups apparently involved three genetic units according to Structure results, and the results of other analyses also suggested genetic differences between the two Atlantic spawning groups. The genetic substructure detected within the Atlantic agrees with the spawning groups, but does not fit easily with ICES Subdivisions. Based on these results, a revision of the current anchovy management in both Alboran Sea and Bay of Biscay areas is suggested.

Historical analysis ofPanI in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua): temporal stability of allele frequencies in the southeastern part of the species distribution

We investigated temporal genetic differentiation at the pantophysin (Pan I) locus in four Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) populations from the southeastern part of the species distribution: the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the Faroe Plateau, and the Faroe Bank. Historical otolith collections enabled investigation of allele frequency variation over time periods up to 69 years employing Pan I primers specifically designed for partially degraded DNA. Small and nonsignificant temporal changes in Pan I allele frequencies were observed in the four populations. Simultaneous microsatellite analysis revealed similar temporal genetic stability with temporal FSTvalues ranging from 0 to 0.006, suggesting limited demographic changes. Sea surface temperature, which has been suggested as the primary driver for the geographical distribution of Pan I alleles in cod, showed no long-term trend although temperature has increased since the mid-1990s. Our study demonstrates that populations in the southeastern part of the species range has been characterized by very high frequencies of the Pan IAallele for many decades, and accordingly, Pan I serves as a reliable marker for genetic stock identification on a macrogeographical scale.

Evidence of temporal genetic change in wild Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., populations affected by farm escapees

AbstractA large number of farmed Atlantic salmon escape from sea cages and hatcheries annually. Selection programmes and domestication have changed the genetic composition of farmed salmon to improve their performance in the culture environment, which apparently occurs at the cost of their fitness in the natural environment. Therefore, gene flow from farmed salmon to wild salmon populations may have altered the genetic composition of wild salmon populations. To investigate the temporal genetic stability in seven wild Norwegian salmon populations, genetic profiles were produced from historical and contemporary scale samples. Historical and contemporary samples of salmon from the Namsen, Etne, Opo, Vosso, Granvin, Eio, and Hå Rivers were genotyped at the following eight microsatellite loci: Ssa13.37, Ssa28, SsOSL85, Ssa197, Ssa20.19, SsaF43, Ssa202, and Ssa85. A significant change in genetic profiles was observed over time in the Opo, Vosso, and Eio Rivers, but no changes in genetic profiles were observed in the Namsen, Etne, Granvin, and Hå Rivers. A small reduction in FST values and genetic distances among populations was observed in the contemporary samples compared with the historical samples, indicating a eduction in population differentiation over time.

Maintenance of a small anadromous subpopulation of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) by straying

Summary1. Microsatellite and isozyme loci variation were used to study structure and dynamics of a brown trout (Salmo trutta) population heavily affected by damming. The downstream area accessible for spawning was drastically reduced to a stream 1 km long influenced by regulated discharge.2. Stocking of hatchery‐reared juveniles failed and the population is entirely supported by anadromous adults from neighbouring populations.3. Temporal genetic stability is reported here. Some punctual between‐river genetic differences are likely because of different contribution from each neighbouring river through years.4. High anadromy‐mediated gene flow produces a lack of genetic substructure in the region. The role of anadromous brown trout on maintenance of endangered small populations is emphasised.

Analysis of recombinant Plum pox virus (PPV) isolates from Serbia confirms genetic homogeneity and supports a regional origin for the PPV-Rec subgroup

The recent observation of the frequent occurrence of natural recombinant Plum pox virus (PPV) isolates has led to the identification of a distinct PPV subgroup, named PPV-Rec. The diversity, origin and geographical spread of the recombinant PPV isolates belonging to this subgroup remain, however, relatively poorly known. In an effort to further our understanding of these isolates, eight PPV isolates from Serbia, the country from which the first such recombinant (PPV-o6) originated, were characterized. Depending on the genomic region targeted by different typing assays, seven of the eight isolates tested presented discrepancies in their typing behavior. Sequence analysis of the (Cter)NIb-(Nter)CP region confirmed the recombinant nature of these seven isolates which all presented an identical recombination breakpoint identical to previously characterized PPV-Rec isolates. Biological indexing and immunoblot analysis provided indications that asymptomatic infection of the GF305 peach indicator and migration of the coat protein as a double-band in immunoblots may represent conserved and discriminating properties of PPV-Rec isolates. The genetic diversity of PPV-Rec isolates from former Yugoslavia (Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina) was estimated to be twice as large as that of the PPV-Rec isolates obtained from all other countries to date (Albania, Bulgaria, Czech republic, Germany, Hungary and Slovakia). These last results are consistent with the hypothesis that former Yugoslavia is the center of dispersion of PPV-Rec. Taken together, the results presented here provide further evidence for the wide distribution and temporal genetic stability of these natural PPV recombinant isolates and provide for the first time a possible scenario for their dispersion throughout central and eastern Europe.

Temporal change in genetic structure and effective population size in steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

There is a wealth of published molecular population genetic studies, however, most do not include historic samples and thus implicitly assume temporal genetic stability. We tested for changes in genetic diversity and structure in three populations of steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) from a northern British Columbia watershed using seven microsatellite loci over 40 years. We found little change in genetic diversity (mean allele numbers and observed and expected heterozygosity), despite large variation in the estimated numbers of steelhead returning to the watershed over the same time period. However, the temporal stability in genetic diversity is not reflected in population structure, which appears to be high among populations, yet significantly variable over time. The neighbour-joining tree showed that, overall, two of the populations (Zymoetz and Kispiox) clustered separately from the third (Babine); a finding which was not consistent with their geographical separation. The clustering pattern was also not temporally consistent. We used the temporal method to estimate the effective number of breeders (Nb ) for the three populations; our values (Nb = 17-102) were low for the large and presumed vigorous populations of steelhead trout sampled. The low Nb values were also not consistent with the generally high genetic diversity estimates, suggesting the possibility of intermittent gene flow among the three populations. The use of temporal analyses in population genetic samples should be a priority; first, to verify observed patterns in contemporary data, and second, to build a dataset of temporal analyses to allow generalizations to be made concerning temporal genetic stability and effective population size in natural populations.

Temporal Genetic Stability Within and Restricted Migration (Gene Flow) Between Local Populations of the Blackberry-Grain Aphid Sitobion fragariae in South-East England

Sitobion fragariae appears to be highly polymorphic for enzyme markers,although only a relatively small number of loci were surveyed.