Genetic studies Across North America: mitochondrial control region - Species identification - lake comparisons - Lake Erie Structure
Yellow Perch: Research to date has analyzed 495 specimens of yellow perch for 8 microsatellite loci among 16 population groups, including outlying samples from Atlantic coastal and southern groups. Continuing work focuses on the expansion of microsatellite loci to 15 and increasing our sample collection. We are also currently evaluating 4 new microsatellite loci for future inclusion into the population genetic analysis.
View Larger Map
Lake Erie sampling locations and primary genetic barriers for Yellow Perch based on 15 microsatellite loci for 507 individuals. This map is interactive - selecting a point will show the genetic information for those samples.
A Landscape Genetic Analysis of Great Lakes Yellow Perch Populations in Relation to their Variation Across North America
Osvaldo J. Sepulveda Villet and Carol A. Stepien
Population genetic variation of yellow perch Perca flavescens across the Great Lakes and their native North American range was analyzed using a landscape genetics approach. Nine microsatellite loci and mitochondrial DNA control region sequences were compared for 500+ spawning samples from Lakes Michigan, Huron, St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario; and outlying populations from Lake Winnipeg, Lake Champlain, the upper Mississippi River, and the Atlantic and Gulf coastal regions. Analyses included phylogenetic trees, pairwise Fst analogs and AMOVA partitioning, Mantel regression, Bayesian assignment tests, and Monmonier geographic networks. Results revealed some fine-scale stock structure in Lake Erie, and marked divergence among other locations. A primary divergence separates the Gulf and Atlantic coastal region from the Great Lakes, which are each distinguished by private alleles. This coastal primary clade did not contribute to the Great Lakes post-Pleistocene colonization. Patterns in the Great Lakes suggest contributions from at least two primary glacial refugium groups. Lakes house genetically separable population groups, with further population division in most. Yellow perch spawning in eastern Lake Erie appear more closely allied to groups in Lake Ontario than to those in western Lake Erie.
Fig. 1. Control region haplotype frequency patterning for Yellow Perch spawning site groups across North America.
Fig. 3. Relationships among mtDNA haplotypes of Yellow Perch.
Fig. 4. Pairwise relationship between genetic distance (ӨST/1- ӨST)versus the natural logarithm of geographical distance (km) Across North America. Test of isolation by distance: P = 0.012**, R2 = 0.319, equation is y = 1843.9x + 686.52. Possibility of incurring type 1 error is lower than 1.17%.
Fig. 5. allele distribution for six representative Yellow Perch microsatellite loci among selected regions. Rings represent loci, colors within a ring represent alleles.
Fig. 6. Monmonier barrier assigment of Yellow Perch genetic discontinuity across North America. Barriers are labeled in order of decreasing significance.
Fig. 7. Monmonier barrier assigment of Yellow Perch genetic discontinuity within Lake Erie sites. Barriers are labeled in order of decreasing significance.
Fig. 8. Bayesian assignment of Yellow Perch genetic structure. Vertical bars represent individuals, colors within a bar represent probability of assignment to a cluster. 8 microsatellite loci, 25 collection sites, N= =495 fish, PP=0.997. K=10
Genetic studies Across North America: mitochondrial control region - Species identification - lake comparisons- Lake Erie Structure
