Comparative analysis of population structure across environments and geographical scales at major histocompatibility complex and microsatellite loci in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

2002 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 2525-2539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Landry ◽  
Louis Bernatchez
Keyword(s):  
Population Structure ◽  
Major Histocompatibility Complex ◽  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Atlantic Salmon ◽  
Salmo Salar ◽  
Microsatellite Loci ◽  
Major Histocompatibility ◽  
Atlantic Salmon Salmo Salar ◽  
Histocompatibility Complex

scholarly journals Mate choice for major histocompatibility complex genetic divergence as a bet-hedging strategy in the Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar )

2011 ◽  
Vol 279 (1727) ◽  
pp. 379-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa L. Evans ◽  
Mélanie Dionne ◽  
Kristina M. Miller ◽  
Louis Bernatchez
Keyword(s):  
Major Histocompatibility Complex ◽  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Mate Choice ◽  
Atlantic Salmon ◽  
Salmo Salar ◽  
Offspring Survival ◽  
Major Histocompatibility ◽  
Bet Hedging ◽  
Hedging Strategy ◽  
Histocompatibility Complex

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-dependent mating preferences have been observed across vertebrate taxa and these preferences are expected to promote offspring disease resistance and ultimately, viability. However, little empirical evidence linking MHC-dependent mate choice and fitness is available, particularly in wild populations. Here, we explore the adaptive potential of previously observed patterns of MHC-dependent mate choice in a wild population of Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) in Québec, Canada, by examining the relationship between MHC genetic variation and adult reproductive success and offspring survival over 3 years of study. While Atlantic salmon choose their mates in order to increase MHC diversity in offspring, adult reproductive success was in fact maximized between pairs exhibiting an intermediate level of MHC dissimilarity. Moreover, patterns of offspring survival between years 0+ and 1+, and 1+ and 2+ and population genetic structure at the MHC locus relative to microsatellite loci indicate that strong temporal variation in selection is likely to be operating on the MHC. We interpret MHC-dependent mate choice for diversity as a likely bet-hedging strategy that maximizes parental fitness in the face of temporally variable and unpredictable natural selection pressures.

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