Mitochondrial DNA Variation among Lake Superior Brook Trout Populations: Summary of Genetic Analyses
Burnham-Curtis MK. 1996. Mitochondrial DNA Variation among Lake Superior Brook Trout Populations: Summary of Genetic Analyses. National Biological Service, Great Lakes Science Center. Ann Arbor
Genetic characteristics of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) populations from tributary streams and bays around Lake Superior were compared to hatchery brook trout and brook trout sampled from outside the Great Lakes Basin. Variation was mostly found within the brook trout populations. Grand Marais Harbor (MN), Grace Creek (Isle Royale), and Salmon Trout River (MI) are suspected to be historical coaster brook trout habitats as they show substantial genetic variation within the sampled populations. Several diverse clonal types and a few rare clonal variants were identified, concluding that the populations are still being maintained by wild brook trout stocks. The most common clonal type identified was characteristic of the hatchery brook trout strain as well as the Nipigon population, which is the current source for hatchery brook trout. Tiger trout F1 hybrids (brook trout female x brown trout male) and backcrosses were identified in the Sucker River, east of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Past hybridization may be affecting the genetic integrity of these resident brook trout populations.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Burnham-Curtis, Mary
- Date of Issue
- 1996-09-26
- Publisher
- National Biological Service, Great Lakes Science Center
- Units
- PIRO
- Keywords
- Brown Trout (Salmo trutta), Coaster Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), Fisheries Management, Genetic Diversity, Lake Superior, Morphology, Stocking, tiger trout