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Neutral variation does not predict immunogenetic variation in the European grayling (Thymallus thymallus)-implications for management.
Vanessa Huml, J; Taylor, Martin I; Edwin Harris, W; Sen, Robin; Ellis, Jonathan S.
Affiliation
  • Vanessa Huml J; School of Science & Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.
  • Taylor MI; School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK.
  • Edwin Harris W; School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
  • Sen R; School of Science & Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.
  • Ellis JS; School of Science & Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.
Mol Ecol ; 27(21): 4157-4173, 2018 11.
Article in En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30194888
Preservation of genetic diversity is critical to successful conservation, and there is increasing demand for the inclusion of ecologically meaningful genetic information in management decisions. Supportive breeding programmes are increasingly implemented to combat declines in many species, yet their effect on adaptive genetic variation is understudied. This is despite the fact that supportive breeding may interfere with natural evolutionary processes. Here, we assessed the performance of neutral and adaptive markers (major histocompatibility complex; MHC) to inform management of European grayling (Thymallus thymallus), which routinely involves supplementation of natural populations with hatchery-reared fish (stocking). This study is the first to characterize MH II DAA and DAB loci in grayling and to investigate immune genetic variation in relation to management practice in this species. High-throughput Illumina sequencing of "introduced," "stocked native" and "non-stocked native" populations revealed significantly higher levels of allelic richness and heterozygosity for MH markers than microsatellites exclusively in non-stocked native populations. Likewise, significantly lower differentiation at the MH II than for microsatellites was apparent when considering non-stocked native populations, but not stocked populations. We developed a simulation model to test the effects of relaxation of selection during the early life stage within captivity. Dependent on the census population size and stocking intensity, there may be long-term effects of stocking on MH II, but not neutral genetic diversity. This is consistent with our empirical results. This study highlights the necessity for considering adaptive genetic variation in conservation decisions and raises concerns about the efficiency of stocking as a management practice.
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Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Salmonidae / Genetic Variation / Genetics, Population / Major Histocompatibility Complex Type of study: Prognostic_studies / Risk_factors_studies Limits: Animals Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: En Journal: Mol Ecol Journal subject: BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR / SAUDE AMBIENTAL Year: 2018 Document type: Article Country of publication: Reino Unido

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Salmonidae / Genetic Variation / Genetics, Population / Major Histocompatibility Complex Type of study: Prognostic_studies / Risk_factors_studies Limits: Animals Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: En Journal: Mol Ecol Journal subject: BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR / SAUDE AMBIENTAL Year: 2018 Document type: Article Country of publication: Reino Unido