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Title: Comparative population genetic structure and diversity of Yellow Perch and Walleye: Broad- and fine-scale patterns across North America

Author
item STEPIEN, CAROL - University Of Toledo
item KRAMER, EVA - University Of Toledo
item Spear, Allyn
item Shepherd, Brian
item HAPONSKI, AMANDA - University Of Toledo
item SEPULVEDA-VILLET, OSVALDO - University Of Wisconsin

Submitted to: Proceeding of World Aquaculture Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/2015
Publication Date: 2/22/2016
Citation: Stepien, C.A., Kramer, E., Spear, A., Shepherd, B.S., Haponski, A.E., Sepulveda-Villet, O. 2016. Comparative population genetic structure and diversity of Yellow Perch and Walleye: Broad- and fine-scale patterns across North America [abstract]. Proceeding of World Aquaculture Society. p. 13.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The yellow perch Perca flavescens and the walleye Sander vitreus are native North American percid fishes, which have considerable fishery and ecological importance across their wide geographic ranges. Over the past century, they were stocked into new habitats, often with relative disregard for conserving local genetic adaptations. This presentation focuses on their comparative population structure and genetic diversity in relationship to historical patterns, habitat connectivity, dispersal ability, distributional abundances, and reproductive behavior. Both species possess considerable genetic structure across their native ranges, exhibiting similar patterning of discontinuities among geographic regions. The two species differ significantly in levels of genetic diversity, with walleye populations possessing overall higher genetic variability than yellow perch. Genetic divergence patterns follow the opposite trend, with more pronounced differences occurring among closely spaced spawning groups of yellow perch than walleye. Results reveal broadscale correspondence to isolation by geographic distance, however, their fine-scale population structures show less relationship, often with pronounced genetic differences among some closely-spaced spawning groups. Genetic composition of spawning groups is stable from year to year in walleye, according to two decades of data, and is less consistent in yellow perch. These patterns appear to reflect fundamental behavioral differences between the two species.