Combining genetic and demographic information to prioritize conservation efforts for anadromous alewife and blueback herring

Palkovacs, Eric P.; Hasselman, Daniel J.; Argo, Emily E.; Gephard, Stephen; Limburg, Karin E.; Post, David M.; Schultz, Thomas F.; Willis, Theodore V.

doi:10.1111/eva.12111

Cited by 55 publications

(88 citation statements)

References 50 publications

(52 reference statements)

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“…Our observation that the geographically close TRY and KOG streams form a single population may result from a lack of analytical power to differentiate them, or from the fishes’ inability to distinguish between geographically close streams, as has been reported for anadromous species such as the alewife Alosa pseudoharengus and blueback herring Alosa aestivalis (Palkovacs et al. ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 77%

Genomic population structure of freshwater‐resident and anadromous ide (Leuciscus idus) in north‐western Europe

Skovrind

Olsen

Vieira

et al. 2016

Ecology and Evolution

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Climate change experts largely agree that future climate change and associated rises in oceanic water levels over the upcoming decades, will affect marine salinity levels. The subsequent effects on fish communities in estuarine ecosystems however, are less clear. One species that is likely to become increasingly affected by changes in salinity is the ide (Leuciscus idus). The ide is a stenohaline freshwater fish that primarily inhabits rivers, with frequent anadromous behavior when sea salinity does not exceed 15%. Unlike most other anadromous Baltic Sea fish species, the ide has yet to be subjected to large‐scale stocking programs, and thus provides an excellent opportunity for studying the natural population structure across the current salinity gradient in the Danish Belts. To explore this, we used Genotyping‐by‐Sequencing to determine genomic population structure of both freshwater resident and anadromous ide populations in the western Baltic Sea region, and relate the results to the current salinity gradient and the demographic history of ide in the region. The sample sites separate into four clusters, with all anadromous populations in one cluster and the freshwater resident populations in the remaining three. Results demonstrate high level of differentiation between sites hosting freshwater resident populations, but little differentiation among anadromous populations. Thus ide exhibit the genomic population structure of both a typical freshwater species, and a typical anadromous species. In addition to providing a first insight into the population structure of north‐western European ide, our data also (1) provide indications of a single illegal introduction by man; (2) suggest limited genetic effects of heavy pollution in the past; and (3) indicate possible historical anadromous behavior in a now isolated freshwater population.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 77%

Genomic population structure of freshwater‐resident and anadromous ide (Leuciscus idus) in north‐western Europe

Skovrind

Olsen

Vieira

et al. 2016

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Collections were replicated for a subset of rivers over successive years and pooled following an analysis of molecular variance ( amova ) that indicated nonsignificant ( P > 0.05) genetic variation among years within rivers (Palkovacs et al . ). Samples were obtained in freshwater from adult specimens on their spawning run, with the exception of those collected from Veazie Dam and Souadabscook Falls (Penobscot River) that comprised young‐of‐the‐year specimens.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…), making these species a conservation concern (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission ; Palkovacs et al . ). Evidence for human impacts on hybridization could hold important implications in setting future conservation guidelines (Allendorf et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Human disturbance causes the formation of a hybrid swarm between two naturally sympatric fish species

et al. 2014

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Most evidence for hybrid swarm formation stemming from anthropogenic habitat disturbance comes from the breakdown of reproductive isolation between incipient species, or introgression between allopatric species following secondary contact. Human impacts on hybridization between divergent species that naturally occur in sympatry have received considerably less attention. Theory predicts that reinforcement should act to preserve reproductive isolation under such circumstances, potentially making reproductive barriers resistant to human habitat alteration. Using 15 microsatellites, we examined hybridization between sympatric populations of alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) and blueback herring (A. aestivalis) to test whether the frequency of hybridization and pattern of introgression have been impacted by the construction of a dam that isolated formerly anadromous populations of both species in a landlocked freshwater reservoir. The frequency of hybridization and pattern of introgression differed markedly between anadromous and landlocked populations. The rangewide frequency of hybridization among anadromous populations was generally 0-8%, whereas all landlocked individuals were hybrids. Although neutral introgression was observed among anadromous hybrids, directional introgression leading to increased prevalence of alewife genotypes was detected among landlocked hybrids. We demonstrate that habitat alteration can lead to hybrid swarm formation between divergent species that naturally occur sympatrically, and provide empirical evidence that reinforcement does not always sustain reproductive isolation under such circumstances.

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“…Original population abundances for alewives are unknown (Limburg and Waldman 2009), but these fish were once so numerous that they have been described as the "passenger pigeons of the sea" (Bolster 2006). Along with the ongoing effects of dams, bycatch in offshore herring (Clupea harengus) fisheries poses a major threat; since 1970, alewife landings on the east coast of the USA have declined by 93%, with extirpations in the southern end of their range (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (AMFC) 2012, Palkovacs et al 2014). Compared with alewife stocks across the eastern seaboard, Maine's alewives are of lower conservation concern (Palkovacs et al 2014), but challenges still remain.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Along with the ongoing effects of dams, bycatch in offshore herring (Clupea harengus) fisheries poses a major threat; since 1970, alewife landings on the east coast of the USA have declined by 93%, with extirpations in the southern end of their range (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (AMFC) 2012, Palkovacs et al 2014). Compared with alewife stocks across the eastern seaboard, Maine's alewives are of lower conservation concern (Palkovacs et al 2014), but challenges still remain. In this context, the localized http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol20/iss2/art31/ recovery of alewife runs in Maine rivers-along with growing understanding that restoration efforts can produce a rapid benefit for local communities-represents a small step in the right direction toward alewife population recovery and increased resilience of Maine's fishing communities.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social benefits of restoring historical ecosystems and fisheries: alewives in Maine

McClenachan¹,

Lovell²,

Keaveney³

2015

E&S

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ABSTRACT. Restoration of coastal ecosystems provides opportunities to simultaneously restore historical fisheries and ancillary ecosystem and social benefits that were historically derived from functioning ecosystems. In Maine, dam removal and other ecosystem restoration efforts have positively impacted anadromous fish, with local populations of alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus) rapidly recovering to near historical population abundances in some locations. This research investigates the social benefits conferred by the restoration of habitat connectivity, fish populations, and local small-scale fisheries. Using municipal fisheries data and interviews with stakeholders in coastal Maine, it describes a suite of both direct and indirect benefits: a reversal of the "shifting baselines syndrome" and a motivation to manage fisheries sustainably, diversification of local economies and fisheries, community building and an increased sense of local pride, a demographic broadening of the conservation community, and enhanced ecosystem services and recreational opportunities. As well, it identifies a positive feedback between economic benefits and other social benefits, with revenue earned from alewife fisheries enhancing community engagement and providing motivation for further restoration. Placing ecological restoration efforts into this larger social context-rather than simply evaluating them based on immediate economic benefits-provides a broader framework to assess overall societal benefits derived from restoration efforts.

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Combining genetic and demographic information to prioritize conservation efforts for anadromous alewife and blueback herring

Cited by 55 publications

References 50 publications

Genomic population structure of freshwater‐resident and anadromous ide (Leuciscus idus) in north‐western Europe

Genomic population structure of freshwater‐resident and anadromous ide (Leuciscus idus) in north‐western Europe

Human disturbance causes the formation of a hybrid swarm between two naturally sympatric fish species

Social benefits of restoring historical ecosystems and fisheries: alewives in Maine

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