Publication
Genetic insights into the management and conservation of Arctic charr in North Wales
Publisher:
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date:
03-12-2021
DOI:
10.1101/2021.12.03.470319
Abstract: Aquatic species throughout the world are threatened by extinction in many parts of their range, particularly in their most southerly distributions. Arctic charr ( Salvelinus alpinus ) is a Holarctic species with a distribution that includes the glacial lakes of North Wales, towards it southern limit. To date, no genetic studies have been conducted to determine the genetic health of the three remaining native Arctic charr populations in North Wales, despite exposure to stocking and adverse environmental and ecological conditions. We used seven microsatellite loci to determine whether: 1) genetic differentiation existed between native populations 2) translocated populations from Llyn Peris were genetically similar to the historically connected Llyn Padarn population and 3) hatchery supplementation negatively impacted genetic ersity in Llyn Padarn. All three native populations retained their genetic integrity, with Llyn Bodlyn showing high levels of ergence (F ST = 0.26 ± 0.02SD) as well as low genetic ersity (H O 0.30) compared to remaining populations (H O 0.64 ± 0.14SD). Although evidence suggests that stocking increased the effective population size of Llyn Padarn in the short term without impacting genetic ersity, the long term effects of such practices are yet to be seen. Results provide baseline data for conservation management, and highlight the need for protection of small isolated populations that are being negatively impacted by the processes of genetic drift due to escalating anthropogenic pressures. Continual monitoring of both Arctic charr and their habitats using a combination of methods will increase the likelihood that these threatened and iconic populations will persist in the future.