Population Genetic Structure of the Spotted Wolffish, Anarhichas minor, in the North Atlantic

Abstract

Abstract:The genetic population structure of spotted wolffish Anarhichas minor (Olafsen) in the North Atlantic was investigated by allozyme electrophoresis and by PCR based RFLP variation in mtDNA. Samples were collected from five sites distributed across the North Atlantic and from second generation Norwegian broodstock. The present data demonstrates that significant differences exist between almost all sampling sites, indicating biologically different groups of individuals, and thus the existence of different management populations of spotted wolffish in the North Atlantic. Overall, the data indicated that isolation by distance is weak among spotted wolffish at the geographic scale investigated in this study, suggesting that gene flow between neighbouring spotted wolffish populations is low. The present study demonstrates a high level of geographic population structure between the western Atlantic, middle and eastern Atlantic and Baltic Sea, and thus, the findings should be useful in devising overall management and conservation strategies for the species.

The status of spotted wolffish, Anarhichas minor: A commercially ready species for U.S. marine aquaculture?

“…In the western Atlantic, spotted wolffish are found along West Greenland, north to Upernivik Fjord, occasionally to Thule, and from the Baffin Islands and northern Labrador south to the Nova cotia Banks, and sporadically to Massachusetts Bay and perhaps even as far south as New Jersey, USA (Robbins & Ray, 1986). Geographical population differences across the North Atlantic exist as determined by allozyme polymorphism and variation in mitochondrial DNA among spotted wolffish samples obtained from multiple locations (Imsland et al, 2008). Within Canadian waters, spotted wolffish have low genetic diversity, especially for a marine species, suggesting they may be more vulnerable to overexploitation than other wolffishes (McCusker & Bentzen, 2011).…”

Evaluation of the Physiological Relationship Between Oxidative Stress and Metabolic Characters: Insights From Hybridization Between Anarhichas minor × A. lupus

“…Some of these nucleotide substitutions between the three Anarhichas species lead to amino acid replacements in genes encoding peptides involved in the ETS and ATP synthase. Despite these divergences, the occurrence of wolffish hybrids has been suggested in the North Atlantic Ocean [19][20][21][22] and a recent complementary study has demonstrated that the Atlantic and spotted wolffish can be hybridised in captivity to produce viable offspring, which suggests no prezygotic isolation between both species [23]. Considering the potential existence of a divergence threshold above which hybrid breakdown is detected, more precise mitochondrial gene sequences analyses are required as well as further assessment of the impacts of amino acid substitutions on metabolic functions and ROS production.…”

Characterization of the early-stages of the wolffish hybridAnarhichas minor×Anarhichas lupus: conservation and aquaculture applications

“…Based on morphological observations, the occurrence of wolffish hybrids in the wild has been suggested by Luhmann (1954). Later, Templeman (1986) described intermediate forms of wolffish (possibly A. minor × Anarhichas denticulatus Krøyer) in the North Atlantic Ocean, whereas Imsland et al (2008) based on population genetic structure investigations, suggest their possible presence in Canadian waters.…”