T. F. Næsje

Sex-dependent dominance at a single locus maintains variation in age at maturity in salmon

Males and females share many traits that have a common genetic basis; however, selection on these traits often differs between the sexes, leading to sexual conflict. Under such sexual antagonism, theory predicts the evolution of genetic architectures that resolve this sexual conflict. Yet, despite intense theoretical and empirical interest, the specific loci underlying sexually antagonistic phenotypes have rarely been identified, limiting our understanding of how sexual conflict impacts genome evolution and the maintenance of genetic diversity. Here we identify a large effect locus controlling age at maturity in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), an important fitness trait in which selection favours earlier maturation in males than females, and show it is a clear example of sex-dependent dominance that reduces intralocus sexual conflict and maintains adaptive variation in wild populations. Using high-density single nucleotide polymorphism data across 57 wild populations and whole genome re-sequencing, we find that the vestigial-like family member 3 gene (VGLL3) exhibits sex-dependent dominance in salmon, promoting earlier and later maturation in males and females, respectively. VGLL3, an adiposity regulator associated with size and age at maturity in humans, explained 39% of phenotypic variation, an unexpectedly large proportion for what is usually considered a highly polygenic trait. Such large effects are predicted under balancing selection from either sexually antagonistic or spatially varying selection. Our results provide the first empirical example of dominance reversal allowing greater optimization of phenotypes within each sex, contributing to the resolution of sexual conflict in a major and widespread evolutionary trade-off between age and size at maturity. They also provide key empirical evidence for how variation in reproductive strategies can be maintained over large geographical scales. We anticipate these findings will have a substantial impact on population management in a range of harvested species where trends towards earlier maturation have been observed.

Estuarine habitat use by juvenile dusky kob Argyrosomus japonicus (Sciaenidae), with implications for management

The spatial and temporal area-use patterns of estuarine-dependent juvenile dusky kob Argyrosomus japonicus in the Great Fish Estuary, South Africa, were examined using acoustic telemetry. In all, 29 individuals (307–400 mm total length) were surgically equipped with individually coded transmitters and monitored for a period of up to 195 days using an array of 11 moored data-logging acoustic receivers. Tagged dusky kob spent most time in the estuary (84%), compared with neighbouring marine (13%) and riverine (4%) environments. Tagged fish made extensive use of the estuary from the mouth to between 6.4 km and 10.3 km upstream, and spent approximately equal proportions of time at each of the seven receivers located between 0.5 km and 6.5 km from the mouth. A total of 18 fish undertook sea trips of a mean duration of 3.5 days, whereas three individuals made riverine excursions (mean duration = 7.3 days). A total of 12 (41%) tagged fish was captured in the estuary prior to, during or after the monitoring period. These findings highlight the importance of estuaries as critical nursery areas, and that the use of these habitats by dusky kob should be better reflected in the management arrangements for this fishery species.

Ontogenetic changes in habitat use by whitefish, Coregonus lavaretus

SynopsisThe whitefish, Coregonus lavaretus, in the lake Mjøsa exhibited two niche changes during their life cycle. Juveniles (< 25 cm body length) were confined to the shallow (0–30 m) epibenthic zone. Medium sized whitefish (25–35 cm body length) expanded their habitat use to include the deep (30–90 m) epibenthic zone as well as the pelagic zone. From a body length of 35 cm, habitat use was restricted to the deep epibenthic zone. Small fish in the shallow epibenthic zone ate small and medium-sized prey (zooplankton, insect larvae and surface insects). Medium-sized fish in this zone were in addition feeding on the larger amphipod, Pallasea quadrispinosa. In the pelagic zone, the diet of medium-sized whitefish was dominated by zooplankton, although some larger prey like surface insects and age-0 smelt, Osmerus eperlanus, were also eaten. In the deep epibenthic zone, the diet of both medium-sized and large (< 35 cm) whitefish consisted mainly of the large prey P. quadrispinosa.

Estuarine use by spotted grunter Pomadasys commersonnii in a South African estuary, as determined by acoustic telemetry

Factors influencing estuarine use and marine excursions by spotted grunter Pomadasys commersonnii in the Great Fish Estuary, South Africa, were studied using manual and automated telemetry methods. In all, 20 individuals, ranging from 362 mm to 698 mm total length (TL), were caught and tagged with acoustic-coded transmitters in the estuary. Tagged individuals spent most time in the estuary (67%), interspersed with a number of marine excursions — 15 in all. The number (6–53) and mean duration (0.8–9.5 days) of sea excursions varied among individuals, and were correlated significantly with tide, time of day, fish size and various environmental conditions. On average, fish departed the estuary on the outgoing tide at night and returned to the estuary on the incoming tide during the day. Spotted grunter <400 mm TL spent more time in the estuary than larger fish (403–698 mm TL). The number of fish recorded in the estuary was significantly correlated with barometric pressure, wind direction and sea temperature. The spotted grunter under study exhibited a high degree of estuarine use, highlighting the importance of this habitat to this overexploited, estuarine-dependent fishery species.

Pre-winter lipid stores in young-of-year Atlantic salmon along a north-south gradient.

The pre-winter lipid stores of young-of-the-year (YOY, age 0 year) Atlantic salmon Salmo salar were analysed along a north-south gradient from c. 71 to 58 degrees N, with winter conditions ranging from >200 days of ice cover to no ice. The rivers sampled in Northern Norway represent some of the most northerly S. salar rivers. There was an increase in lipid content with increasing latitude, and mean lipid content (size adjusted to common mass) for YOY in northern rivers were almost three times higher: 0.035 g compared to 0.013 g in southern rivers. The relationship was not sensitive to variation in sampling time or variation in YOY body size. The lipid stores, however, varied markedly between rivers and also between neighbouring rivers, indicating different strategies or opportunities for pre-winter lipid storage both at latitudinal and local scales.

Ice-dependent winter survival of juvenile Atlantic salmon

Changes in snow and ice conditions are some of the most distinctive impacts of global warming in cold temperate and Arctic regions, altering the environment during a critical period for survival for most animals. Laboratories studies have suggested that reduced ice cover may reduce the survival of stream dwelling fishes in Northern environments. This, however, has not been empirically investigated in natural populations in large rivers. Here, we examine how the winter survival of juvenile Atlantic salmon in a large natural river, the River Alta (Norway, 70°N), is affected by the presence or absence of surface ice. Apparent survival rates for size classes corresponding to parr and presmolts were estimated using capture-mark-recapture and Cormack-Jolly-Seber models for an ice-covered and an ice-free site. Apparent survival (Φ) in the ice-covered site was greater than in the ice-free site, but did not depend on size class (0.64 for both parr and presmolt). In contrast, apparent survival in the ice-free site was lower for larger individuals (0.33) than smaller individuals (0.45). The over-winter decline in storage energy was greater for the ice-free site than the ice-covered site, suggesting that environmental conditions in the ice-free site caused a strong depletion in energy reserves likely affecting survival. Our findings highlight the importance of surface ice for the winter survival of juvenile fish, thus, underpinning that climate change, by reducing ice cover, may have a negative effect on the survival of fish adapted to ice-covered habitats during winter.

Estuarine and coastal connectivity of an estuarine-dependent fishery species, Pomadasys commersonnii (Haemulidae)

Understanding the level of connectivity between estuarine and coastal waters is essential for appropriate management of estuarine-associated taxa. Most studies have focused on the role of a single estuary, while limited research exists on the importance of multiple estuaries to individuals of estuarine-associated species. This study used acoustic telemetry to assess the usage of multiple estuaries and coastal waters by the estuarine-dependent spotted grunter Pomadasys commersonnii. Twenty-six adult fish were tagged with acoustic transmitters in the Kariega and Bushmans estuaries, South Africa, and their movements along a 300-km stretch of Indian Ocean coastline were monitored for up to 17 months. Tagged individuals spent most of their time in the estuary where they were tagged (55% and 85% for fish tagged in the two estuaries, respectively), followed by time in the sea (30% and 15%) and in other estuaries (15% and <1%). The mean durations of sea trips for fish tagged in the Kariega Estuary or Bushmans Estuary, respectively, were 25 days (range 3–55) and 12 days (range 2–22). Of the fish that went to sea, 93% from the Kariega Estuary and 60% from the Bushmans Estuary visited other estuaries. Most visits were undertaken to the Swartkops, Bushmans and Kowie estuaries, although the longest durations were spent in the Sundays Estuary. Individuals moved to estuaries up to 130 km away. The total distance travelled between estuaries by an individual during the study was ∼529 km, with means of 201 and 184 km, respectively, for fish tagged in the Kariega and Bushmans estuaries. Despite covering large distances between estuaries, individuals often returned to their tagging estuary. Residency in their tagging estuary, combined with frequent visits to a neighbouring estuary, highlights the importance of estuarine habitats for this popular fish species, even after reaching maturity.