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Genetic Structure of Atlantic Sturgeon Populations Based on Mitochondrial DNA Control Region Sequences
Author(s) -
Wirgin Isaac,
Waldman John R.,
Rosko Jannine,
Gross Rachel,
Collins Mark R.,
Rogers S. Gordon,
Stabile Joseph
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
transactions of the american fisheries society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1548-8659
pISSN - 0002-8487
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8659(2000)129<0476:gsoasp>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - mtdna control region , biology , range (aeronautics) , population , cline (biology) , mitochondrial dna , phylogeography , ecology , haplotype , pleistocene , zoology , phylogenetics , allele , genetics , paleontology , demography , materials science , sociology , composite material , gene
The Atlantic sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus has a latitudinally broad distribution along the east coast of North America, with extant populations occurring from the Saint Lawrence River to rivers in southern Georgia. This species once supported intensive caviar‐based fisheries that resulted in overharvest and sharply reduced population abundances; presently, directed commercial fishing for Atlantic sturgeon is banned in U.S. waters. We sequenced a 203‐base‐pair section of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region of 322 Atlantic sturgeon specimens from 11 river systems across their range to elucidate their stock structure. We found a pronounced latitudinal cline in the number of composite mtDNA haplotypes and in haplotypic diversity, which increased from north to south, from previously glaciated and subsequently recolonized systems to the portion of their range unglaciated during the Pleistocene. The observed number of haplotypes per population ranged from 1 haplotype in each of the two northernmost population samples to 17 in the sample from the Savannah River. Haplotypic diversity ranged from 0.0 to 0.90. The greater genetic diversity within and among southern populations is likely a product of the persistence of these populations through the Pleistocene and to the faster mutation rates associated with their shorter generation times. Of 39 composite mtDNA haplotypes found, 64% were unique to particular populations. Monomorphism of the two Canadian populations suggested a strong founder effect. Three haplotypes unique to northern populations were probably the result of base substitutions that occurred within the past 10,000 years. In contrast with an earlier study, we found stock structure among southern populations and evidence of at least seven genetic stocks across this subspecies' range.