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Genetic variation in strains of zebrafish (Danio rerio) and the implications for ecotoxicology studies

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Abstract

There is substantial evidence that genetic variation, at both the level of the individual and population, has a significant effect on behaviour, fitness and response to toxicants. Using DNA microsatellites, we examined the genetic variation in samples of several commonly used laboratory strains of zebrafish, Danio rerio, a model species in toxicological studies. We compared the genetic variation to that found in a sample of wild fish from Bangladesh. Our findings show that the wild fish were significantly more variable than the laboratory strains for several measures of genetic variability, including allelic richness and expected heterozygosity. This lack of variation should be given due consideration for any study which attempts to extrapolate the results of ecotoxicological laboratory tests to wild populations.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Greg Paull for his assistance with fish husbandry and Jessica Miller from the University of Harvard for providing samples of zebrafish. Funded by the UK Environment Agency, Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, European Social Fund and University of Exeter to CRT and DH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental and Molecular Fish Biology Group, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK

    T. S. Coe, P. B. Hamilton & C. R. Tyler

  2. Molecular Ecology and Evolution Group, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK

    A. M. Griffiths

  3. Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter Cornwall Campus, Penryn, UK

    D. J. Hodgson

  4. Department of Fisheries Management, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

    M. A. Wahab

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  1. T. S. Coe
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  2. P. B. Hamilton
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  3. A. M. Griffiths
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  4. D. J. Hodgson
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  5. M. A. Wahab
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  6. C. R. Tyler
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Correspondence to C. R. Tyler.

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Coe, T.S., Hamilton, P.B., Griffiths, A.M. et al. Genetic variation in strains of zebrafish (Danio rerio) and the implications for ecotoxicology studies. Ecotoxicology 18, 144–150 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-008-0267-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-008-0267-0

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