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Isolation by a hydroelectric dam induces minimal impacts on genetic diversity and population structure in six fish species

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Abstract

Reduced connectivity created by artificial barriers can influence the genetic integrity of isolated subpopulations by reducing local population sizes and altering patterns of gene flow. We investigated the genetic impacts of one such barrier, the Prairie du Sac dam, Wisconsin, USA, using microsatellite data from six fish species with varying life history traits sampled above and below the dam. Contrary to many past studies in other systems, we did not detect any significant differences in genetic diversity between populations found above and below the Prairie du Sac dam. Our results also revealed low genetic differentiation (FST = 0–0.008) between populations above and below the dam for all species. In fact, we found that more genetic variation was partitioned among sampling years than between above and below dam populations for all but one of the species. Results from coalescent simulations designed to model our study system indicated that the genetic impacts of the dam will likely be detectable approximately 40–60 generations after the dam was constructed, and that it is possible to largely mitigate these impacts with a fish passage strategy that facilitates a migration rate of ≥ 1% between above and below dam populations. In summary, our findings suggest the genetic impacts of dams can be relatively minimal on short time scales, and that fish passage strategies can significantly reduce genetic impacts if designed appropriately.

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Acknowledgements

This project was funded by the Alliant Energy Prairie du Sac Aquatic Resources Enhancement Fund. We would like to thank the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for overseeing the field work associated with this project and providing in-kind contributions. We would also like to thank Loren Miller and Peter Euclide for providing extensive reviews of this paper before submission. Any use of trade, product, or company name is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, College of Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 800 Reserve St., Stevens Point, WI, 54481, USA

    Jenna Ruzich & Keith Turnquist

  2. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, N3344 Stebbins Rd., Poynette, WI, 53955, USA

    Nathan Nye

  3. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 3911 Fish Hatchery Rd., Fitchburg, WI, 53711, USA

    David Rowe

  4. U.S. Geological Survey, Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, College of Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 800 Reserve St., Stevens Point, WI, 54481, USA

    Wesley A. Larson

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  1. Jenna Ruzich
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  2. Keith Turnquist
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  5. Wesley A. Larson
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Correspondence to Wesley A. Larson.

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Ruzich, J., Turnquist, K., Nye, N. et al. Isolation by a hydroelectric dam induces minimal impacts on genetic diversity and population structure in six fish species. Conserv Genet 20, 1421–1436 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-019-01220-1

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