Microsatellite marker-based variation in the growth hormone genes of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Polymorphisms in growth hormone genes have been found to cause variation in growth performance of fish. The objective of the study was to reveal variations in microsatellite loci located in the growth hormone genes of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Five microsatellite loci namely GH-MS01, IGFII, IGFII-MS01, IGFII-MS03, and STR were analyzed to assess the genetic variation in the growth hormone genes of four stocks of O. niloticus viz. FBG-Mini Hatchery, FM-Mini hatchery, Eon Aquaculture Ltd. and BFRI. The microsatellite markers were amplified by polymerase chain reaction, separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and visualized through ethidium bromide staining. All the five loci were found to be polymorphic. The average number of alleles of FM-Mini hatchery stock (3.8) was found to be highest and that of the FBG-Mini hatchery (2.8) and Eon Aquaculture stocks was found to be lowest. The average observed heterozygosity (Ho) value of the FM-Mini hatchery stock was the highest (0.140) and that of FBG-Mini hatchery stock was the lowest (0.040). On the other hand, the average expected heterozygosity (He) was highest in the BFRI stock (0.660) and lowest in the FM-Mini hatchery and FBG-Mini hatchery stock (0.432). The fixation index (1 - (Ho / He) values were positive in all the loci (except locus GH-MS01 in Eon Aquaculture stock), which means these stocks (O. niloticus) were deficient in heterozygosity. Deviation from Hardy-Weinberg expectation at STR locus in FBG-Mini hatchery and Eon Aquaculture stocks were not significant but in all other cases the deviations were found to be significant. The results provide evidence that genetic variation exists within the growth hormone genes in all four stocks of O. niloticus. The polymorphisms that have been detected in the present study can be used to study association with growth and thus selection of fast growing Nile tilapia in Bangladesh.

Trash or treasure? Use of sagittal otoliths partially composed of vaterite for hatchery stock discrimination in steelhead

Sagittal otoliths are normally deposited as the CaCO3 polymorph aragonite; however, a proportion of otoliths transitions to vaterite during growth. This transition can complicate otolith chemistry analyses, as differences in the crystalline structure (aragonite or vaterite) of otoliths causes variation in otolith chemistry signatures. To address this issue, we introduce a method to utilize sagittal otoliths partially composed of vaterite for stock discrimination. Using this method, we determined the hatchery origins of yearlings from five Lake Erie hatcheries by using Ba, Mg, Mn, and Sr concentrations in vaterite sections of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) otoliths. We then compared the classification accuracy of our vaterite method with a method in which otoliths composed entirely of aragonite were used. Overall, quadratic discriminant function analyses revealed similar classification success when elemental concentrations from vaterite (95% accuracy) and aragonite (94% accuracy) otolith regions were used. The methods introduced here could likely be used for other fish species that have otoliths that transition to vaterite as long as an adequate number of juvenile fish are available to develop vaterite otolith chemistry signatures.

Coupling genetic and otolith trace element analyses to identify river-born fish with hatchery pedigrees in stocked Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) populations

This study combines otolith trace element and genetic analyses to explore the origin of individuals when hatchery-reared fish are released into wild populations. We sampled 90 juvenile Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) in four rivers in Normandy (France) and in the hatchery stock. Individuals were analyzed at six microsatellite markers and their otolith elemental concentrations (14 elements) were measured using femto-second laser ablation inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Wild populations were genetically differentiated from the hatchery strain (FST ≈ 0.06). Significant differences in elemental concentrations were found among otoliths of juveniles from the four rivers and the hatchery, allowing the identification of their geographic origin (83%–100% correct assignment). Coupling genetic and trace element analyses on the same individuals provided formal evidence that hatchery-born juveniles released into the wild can migrate to the sea and return as adults to breed on natural spawning grounds. Their progeny have pure hatchery pedigrees but have otoliths typical of river-born juveniles, meaning that they can be mistaken for hatchery-raised juveniles if only genetic data are considered. The presence of hybrids also confirmed that individuals with hatchery pedigrees can breed with wild conspecifics.

Variation of agonistic behavior among juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) of hatchery, hybrid, and wild origin

Agonistic behavior and ability to dominate were compared among juveniles from a hatchery stock of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) that has experienced five generations of hatchery culture, juveniles derived from the wild founding stock but produced from parents cultured in the same hatchery environment as the hatchery stock, and second-generation hybrids between the two lines. Equal numbers of parr (18) from equal numbers of families (5) from each fish line (3) were tested, and all lines were raised in a similar hatchery environment. During 20 min of observation in replicate artificial stream tanks, hatchery-derived fish made significantly greater numbers of charges, displays, and nips than wild-derived fish. Hybrids also made significantly greater numbers of charges, displays, and nips than wild-derived fish but significantly fewer displays than hatchery-derived fish. No difference was detected in the ability of fish lines to win dyadic dominance contests. These results suggest that the differences detected are genetic in origin and are consistent with divergence of the hatchery stock from the founding wild stock.