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Role of genetic background in the introgressive hybridization of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) with Westslope cutthroat trout (O. clarkii lewisi)

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Abstract

Conservation and management of endemic species may increasingly involve efforts to prevent hybridization with other species. Native westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi) management in western North America is based largely on admixture estimates with introduced rainbow trout (O. mykiss), with the highest conservation priority given to cutthroat populations that do not exhibit admixture. This study examined the hypothesis that such ancestry quotients are dependent upon the genetic background of reference rainbow trout populations. We used 10 microsatellite loci to estimate admixture within westslope cutthroat trout collected from 39 sites from Alberta, Canada, using three genetically distinct (pairwise FST = 0.100–0.281) rainbow trout genetic backgrounds: a wild (introduced) population from Alberta, two wild (native) populations from British Columbia, and a present-day hatchery broodstock line. Ancestry quotients were significantly impacted by genetic background, whereby the extent of admixture was highest with locally introduced (wild, naturalized) rainbow trout lines and lowest with the hatchery lines. Our results suggest that future studies ought to explore the possibility that local adaptation or drift in introduced rainbow trout populations may contribute to decreased reproductive isolation with geographically proximal cutthroat trout populations.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) biologist Jennifer Earle for assistance in collecting tissue samples, feedback on experimental design, and comments that improved this MS. Genetic samples were collected by the following agencies: Alberta Environment and Parks, Alberta Conservation Association, Devon Canada, University of Alberta, and Université de Montréal. We would also like to thank members of the Rogers and Vamosi labs for helpful comments, and Peter Peller for the creation of the map. This research was supported by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Discovery Grant to SMR. JAM was supported by an Alberta Innovates Technology Futures grant to SMR.

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    1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada

      B. E. Allen, M. L. Anderson, J. A. Mee & S. M. Rogers

    2. Alberta Environment and Parks, 12501 - 20 Avenue, Crowsnest Pass, AB, T0K 0E0, Canada

      M. Coombs

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    1. B. E. Allen
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    Correspondence to S. M. Rogers.

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    B. E. Allen and M. L. Anderson these authors have contributed equally to this work.

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    Allen, B.E., Anderson, M.L., Mee, J.A. et al. Role of genetic background in the introgressive hybridization of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) with Westslope cutthroat trout (O. clarkii lewisi). Conserv Genet 17, 521–531 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-015-0801-6

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