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Interannual variation in connectivity and comparison of effective population size between two splittail (Pogonichthys macrolepidotus) populations in the San Francisco Estuary

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Abstract

The discovery of two genetically distinct splittail populations within the San Francisco Estuary, one which spawns in the rivers of the Central Valley and another in the Petaluma and Napa Rivers of the San Pablo Bay, prompted the need to evaluate their degree of connectivity and relative sizes. We genotyped multiple age-0 splittail cohorts using 19 microsatellite loci to assess any spatiotemporal changes in the distribution of the two populations and estimate their effective population sizes (N e). Genetic population assignments demonstrated that while age-0 splittail are predominantly spatially segregated by populations, substantial geographical overlap may occur during years of high precipitation. However, despite this periodic range overlap, the original observed population structure has persisted for nearly a decade which has included a similarly wet year. This suggests that the present population structure will likely persist in the future due to strong philopatry and/or adaptive differences. We also found that N e estimates were generally lower for the San Pablo Bay population than the Central Valley population, which is consistent with the relative amount of habitat availability in the two locations and genetic diversity indices. The relative isolation and apparent lower N e of the San Pablo Bay splittail population indicates a higher vulnerability to extinction. A more consistent monitoring effort of splittail in the Petaluma and Napa Rivers may be necessary in order to better understand the future viability of this less studied population.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Kyle Howarth and Katja Waldron for laboratory work support; James Hobbs for sharing his findings regarding splittail age structure in the San Pablo Bay; Matthew Young and Molly Stephens for providing assistance with the preparation of the manuscript. We also thank two anonymous reviewers who provided helpful comments that improved this manuscript.

Funding

This material is based upon work supported by the Delta Science Program under Grant No. 2037.

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Author notes

  1. Brian Mahardja

    Present address: Aquatic Ecology Section, California Department of Water Resources, 3500 Industrial Boulevard, West Sacramento, CA, 95691, USA

  2. Frederick Feyrer

    Present address: California Water Science Center, United States Geological Survey, 6000 J Street, Placer Hall, Sacramento, CA, 95819-6129, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Genomic Variation Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA

    Brian Mahardja, Bernie May & Melinda R. Baerwald

  2. Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA

    Robert Coalter & Nann Fangue

  3. Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA

    Ted Foin

  4. United States Bureau of Reclamation, Bay Delta Office, 801 I Street, Suite 140, Sacramento, CA, 95814, USA

    Frederick Feyrer

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  1. Brian Mahardja
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Correspondence to Brian Mahardja.

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Mahardja, B., May, B., Feyrer, F. et al. Interannual variation in connectivity and comparison of effective population size between two splittail (Pogonichthys macrolepidotus) populations in the San Francisco Estuary. Conserv Genet 16, 385–398 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-014-0665-1

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