Genetic Characterization of Tennessee Brook Trout Populations and Associated Management Implicaitons
Kriegler FJ, Mccracken GF, Habera JW, Strange RJ. 1995. Genetic Characterization of Tennessee Brook Trout Populations and Associated Management Implicaitons. North American Journal of Fisheries Management. 15:804-813
Previous research has indicated that native southern Appalachian brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis arc genetically distinct from hatchery stocks derived from northeastern populations. Six diagnostic allozyme loci identified in earlier research were used to assess the genetic origin of 38 Tennessee brook trout populations outside of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Twenty-two of these populations (58%) were putatively native, eight (21%) were derived from hatchery stocks, and eight (21%) were hybrids. Significant genetic differences among the 22 native populations were observed, and genetic structure among these populations was high (genetic variance index FST = 0.622). Thirty-two percent of the genetic variation among native population was attributable to differences within watersheds, whereas 29% was attributable to variation among the five major watersheds containing brook trout. Populations located north (19) and south (3) of the French Broad River clustered separately, based on a genetic distance index. Knowledge of the genetic characteristics of brook trout populations will enable fisheries managers to make more informed decisions about this resource in Tennessee and elsewhere in the southern Appalachians. Given that maintaining the genetic integrity of native southern Appalachian brook trout is an important goal, our findings will help managers to design strategies that require stocking or stock transfers to create or expand populations.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Kriegler, Frank; Mccracken, Gary; Habera, James; Strange, Richard
- Units
- GRSM
- Keywords
- Appalachian, Brook Trout, enzymes, Genetic, Hardy-Weinberg, hatchery stock, Hybridization, introgression, locus designation, nonnative, protein electrophoresis, putatively native, Salvelinus, starch gel electrophoresis
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Freshwater Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Fishes