Edward Beall

Multiple paternity increases effective size of southern Atlantic salmon populations

Genetic analyses were performed on the progeny of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) sampled in natural redds of three rivers flowing into the Bay of Biscay, the Nivelle, the Mandeo and the Sella. These rivers are at the southern limit of the European distribution of the species and their populations are small and endangered by human activities. Nine variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) loci (five minisatellites and four microsatellites) were used for parentage analysis. Multiple male participation was recognized in the fertilization of eggs. A large proportion was fertilized by precociously mature parr. We demonstrate that multiple paternity derived from mature parr is crucial for the conservation of genetic variability in small populations of Atlantic salmon.

Genetic assessment of the reproductive success of Atlantic salmon precocious parr by means of VNTR loci

Atlantic salmon precocious parr are dwarf mature males able to mate with adult females making profit of their small size. In this work the reproductive success of the dwarf males in the presence of an adult male and female spawning couple has been estimated in three different situations under simulated natural conditions at the Lapitxuri experimental channel (France). Different hypervariable minisatellite loci were used in the paternity assessment of the progeny. In all the situations tested, precocious parr were able to fertilize between 24.7 and 89.3 per cent of the total eggs. The results are discussed in relation to the important role of Atlantic salmon precocious parr in population structure and the evolution of salmon populations.

Nest Placement and Egg Distribution in Atlantic Salmon Redds

Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, deposit their eggs in excavated depressions called nests. These nests are built from downstream to upstream within one or more redds, and each redd corresponds to a continuous area of the streambed disturbed by the female digging activities. Redd topographic measurements and egg excavation were performed to determine number of nests per redd and per female, nest depth, distances between successive nests, number of eggs deposited per nest, and egg survival in nests created by six grilse Atlantic salmon, five spawning in an experimental stream (Lapitxuri channel) and one in a natural stream (Lurgorrieta Creek, a tributary of the Nivelle River in southwest France). All females constructed a single redd, except one which built two redds in the channel. Redd surface area ranged between 2.3 and 5.7 m2. Each redd had a raised mound of gravel or dome under which most of the eggs were located, and an upstream depression or ‘pot’. Based on expected egg-to-juvenile survival rates previously obtained in the Lapitxuri channel and on juvenile recoveries, between 96 and 97% of the eggs deposited in the channel sections were retrieved. Each female constructed 7 to 11 nests over a period of 3 to 5 days. The first three nests had an average burial depth of 12.9 cm (±1.6 SD) which was greater than the last three nests (mean 9.5 cm±2.6 SD). Eggs removed from the first three nests had higher fertility rates (95.5% vs. 87.2%), greater survival (83.5% vs. 63.1%) and lower occurrences of abnormalities (1.9% vs. 5.5%) than those deposited in the last three nests. Typically, the percentage of eggs deposited per female decreased from the first to the last nest, such that the last two to three nests possessed only a small number of scattered eggs. Similar results were observed in the redd located in Lurgorrieta Creek. The adaptive consequences of the topographic features of redds and the egg allocation patterns we found are discussed.

Interspecific barriers between salmonids when hybridisation is due to sneak mating

Male sneaking behaviour can lead to interspecific hybridisation if sneakers attempt to fertilise ova in heterospecific mating, contributing to break down of interspecific barriers. In south European rivers, sneaking Atlantic salmon males fertilise an important proportion of ova from adult females in heterospecific crosses, up to 65%. In a south French flow-controlled stream, we found that they were able to naturally fertilise brown trout ova in absence of brown trout males. Aggressiveness of brown trout males towards sneaking salmon males and low survival of hybrids issued from salmon sneakers are found to be interspecific barriers.

Reproductive behavioural sequences of single pairs of Atlantic salmon in an experimental stream.

We studied 12 size-matched pairs of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, in an experimental stream in southwest France, to determine whether fish activity and motivation changed during the course of reproduction. The absolute weight of spawners did not affect their spawning activity. On average, females deposited their eggs within 3 days in nine nests. Male and female breeding behaviours changed throughout the reproductive period. This cyclic variation in behaviour appeared to be determined in part by the activity of the other sex, as a consequence of complex interplay between the sexes, but also largely by the stage of the spawning period. During the first three ovipositions, male-female stimulus-reaction chaining became more consistent just before spawning, which may help synchronize gamete release for successful fertilization. During the last three ovipositions, sequence chaining between the sexes was less coherent, possibly as a result of reduced mate attractiveness and/or physiological limitations. Copyright 1999 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.

Female preference for male body size in brown trout, Salmo trutta: is big still fashionable?

The study of female preference for male traits is of primary importance for understanding the role of sexual selection in the evolution of natural populations. Female preference is usually investigated in controlled conditions to facilitate the manipulation of variables. However, such results are rarely confirmed in wild populations where many variables act together. Inferring the role of female preference in the outcome of reproduction thus requires field studies and a specific approach to behavioural data. We observed, over 2 years, the courtship behaviours of male and female brown trout in six populations distributed along a French watershed. We focused on behavioural items linked to female preference for male body size. We built a behavioural model describing the relationships between behaviour and female preference and estimated the parameters of the model using a Bayesian modelling approach. We found a significant preference for body size ratio: females tended to prefer males at least 1.45 times their own size. This preference varied between populations and was influenced by female size. Operational sex ratio had only a weak influence on female preference. Our model explained 44% of the observed variation in behaviour. Finally, because observed body size ratio at mating was generally greater than 1, we conclude that female preference plays a major role in the outcome of reproduction in wild populations of brown trout. These results are compared with existing knowledge and theory and their possible consequences at the population level are discussed.

Interspecific hybridization between Atlantic salmon and brown trout introduced in the subantarctic Kerguelen Islands

In the subantarctic French territory of the Kerguelen Islands, Atlantic salmon Salmo salar was stocked to create a new population in the Korrigans drainage system. The analysis of historical scale collections showed that hybrids were inadvertently introduced with the original Atlantic salmon stocks. Later colonization of the Korrigans system by brown trout Salmo trutta was followed by interspecific hybridization between the two species. Our results highlight the importance of both routine genetic monitoring of hatchery stocks and considering the possible influence of other species when stocking is envisaged.

Introgression in the genus Salmo via allotriploids

Hybridization between sympatric species is not uncommon in the wild. Wild allotriploids (individuals with two chromosome sets from a species + one chromosome set from another species) are generally the result of a backcross between interspecific hybrids that produce unreduced gametes and one of the parental species. In animals, allotriploids are commonly sterile, except for some vertebrate species complexes in which allotriploids reproduce by parthenogenesis, gynogenesis and/or hybridogenesis, producing generally clonal or hemiclonal gametes; nuclear DNA introgression between hybridizing species is considered to be extremely rare. Employing species‐specific molecular markers, we show genetic introgression between the chromosomally well‐differentiated salmonids Atlantic salmon (2n = 58) and brown trout (2n = 80) through spontaneous bisexual reproduction of allotriploids leading to salmon‐like offspring bearing some brown trout genes. Although introgression between these Salmo species can occur via allotriploids, we hypothesize that extinction of parental species can be discarded based on very low survival of allotriploid offspring.

Dispersal and rapid evolution in brown trout colonizing virgin Subantarctic ecosystems

Two brown trout Salmo trutta stocks of different origin (wild Polish, domestic commercial) came into secondary contact after deliberate releases conducted in virgin rivers systems of the Subantarctic Kerguelen Islands (70° E 49° S). Samples obtained in 2001–2003 and a historical sample from 1993 were analysed for genetic variation at seven microsatellite loci and one allozyme locus (LDH‐C1*). Bayesian clustering analysis demonstrated that rapid genetic differentiation formed separate genetic units in neighbouring rivers in less than 20 years. These genetic units were characterized by a large proportion of Polish genotypes mixed with some genomes of domestic origin (up to 30%). A different colonization strategy of the naturalized stocks, likely related with differential performance, was identified as a cause of rapid population differentiation in this area.

Behavior and Breeding Success of Wild and First-Generation Hatchery Male Spring Chinook Salmon Spawning in an Artificial Stream

Abstract Spring Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha native to the upper Yakima River, Washington, were placed into an artificial stream to evaluate the effect of a single generation of hatchery culture on their spawning behavior and ability to produce offspring. From 2001 to 2005, seven independent test groups containing wild and hatchery fish were placed into the stream. The effects of body weight, spawning ground longevity, attack frequency, social dominance, courting frequency, and mate number on breeding success in hatchery and wild males were evaluated. Male breeding success increased with body weight, while spawning ground longevity was negatively associated with breeding success. Although important, body weight had a lesser effect on male breeding success than did social dominance or attack frequency. Males with high attack and courting frequencies produced the most progeny; of the traits examined, the number of female spawning partners explained the greatest amount of variation (average r 2 = ...