Gene flow across the N-Atlantic and sex-biased dispersal inferred from mtDNA sequence variation in saithe, Pollachius virens

作者：Eiriksson Guoni Magnus^*; Arnason Einar

来源：Environmental Biology of Fishes, 2015, 98(1): 67-79.

DOI：10.1007/s10641-014-0237-8

• mtDNA
• COI
• Gene flow
• Sex-biased dispersal
• Demography

Genetic variation in saithe Pollachius virens was examined using a 460 base pair fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I mitochondrial gene in 1163 individuals sampled in Canada, Iceland, Faroe Islands and Norway. In all, 43 segregating sites were observed, almost all synonymous, defining 51 haplotypes. High frequency polymorphism was present at the analyzed fragment making it suitable for population genetic studies. The results showed limited trans Atlantic genetic structure indicating high levels of gene flow. However, a spatial genetic structure was observed when considering the sexes separately. This may suggest sex-biased migration pattern. The data indicate that females may be more philopatric and males more migratory. Such behaviour has rarely been described for marine fish and is worth further research. The observed genetic variation also indicates that saithe has undergone sudden population expansion, reflected in high number of singletons and a shallow genealogy.

• 出版日期2015-1