Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Meristic variation among world hatchery stocks of rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson

  • Main article
  • Published:
Environmental Biology of Fishes Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Synopsis

Sixteen meristic characters were examined among 10 stocks of rainbow trout to establish their inter- and intrastock variability and relative discriminating power. The number of vertebrae, dorsal fin rays, scales above and below and lateral line, oblique scale rows and pectoral fin rays were found to be the most useful meristic characters in identifying stocks. Examination of the extent of meristic divergence among 10 hatchery or naturalized stocks from various regions of the world, using analysis of variance, the generalized distance function and per cent overlap, revealed that each stock exhibited highly significant differences in at least one meristic character, thereby demonstrating a high degree of intraspecific variability in meristic expression.

In multivariate terms, stocks from Idaho and Alaska were almost totally divergent from all other stocks examined. Multivariate analysis of meristic features proves to be a useful method for identifying the extent of phenotypic variability among and within divergent stocks of rainbow trout. The observed meristic variability in test stocks of hatchery fish is seemingly genetically set within the limits previously described for native populations of rainbow trout.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References cited

  • Bailey, R. M. 1956. A revised of the fishes of Iowa with keys for identification, pp. 327–377. In: Fish and Fishing, 3rd ed., by James R. Harlan & Everett B. Speaker. Iowa State Consery. Comm., Des Moines, Iowa. 377 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balon, E. K. 1974. Fishes of Lake Kariba, Africa. T.F.H. Publications Inc. Ltd. Neptune City, N.J. 144 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barlow, G. W. 1961. Causes and significance of morphological variation in fishes. Syst. Zool. 10: 106–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Behnke, R. J. 1965. A systematic study of the family Salmonidae with special reference to the genus Salmo. Ph.D. thesis, Univ. Calif. (L.C. Card No. Mic. 65-8126). 273 pp. Univ. Microfilms, Ann Arbor, Mich.

  • Behnke, R. J. 1972. The systematics of salmonid fishes of recently glaciated lakes. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 29: 639–671.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benson, S. B. & R. J. Behnke. 1961 Salmo evermanni a synonym of Salmo clarkii henshawi. Calif. Fish Game 47 (3): 257–259.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bidgood, B. F. 1965. A comparative taxonomic study of rainbow trout Salmo gairdneri Richardson in selected water-sheds in Ontario. M.Sc. thesis, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario. 107 p.

  • Bidgood, B. F. & A. H. Berst. 1967. Lethal temperatures for Great Lakes rainbow trout. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 26 (2): 456–459.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blackwelder, R. E. 1967. Taxonomy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, London, Sydney. 698 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Everhart, W. H., A. W. Eipper & W. D. Youngs. 1975. Principles of Fishery Science. Cornell University Press. Ithaca and London. 288 pp Garside, E. T. 1966. Developmental rate and vertebral number in salmonids. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 23(10): 1537–1551.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gold, J. R. & G. A. E. Gall. 1975. Chromosome cytology and polymorphism in the California High Sierra golden trout (Salmo aguabonita). Can. J. Genet. Cytol. 17: 41–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Günther, A. 1866. Catalogue of the Physostomi in the collection of the British Museum. Fam. 7. Salmonidae. Cat. Fishes Br. Mus. 6, xv: 368.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hubbs, C. L. & K. F. Lagler. 1958. Fishes of the Great Lakes region. Univ. of Mich. Press, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 213 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hubbs,C. L., R. R. Miller & L. C. Hubbs. 1974. Hydrographic history and relict fishes of the North-central Great Basin. Calif. Acad. Sci., Mem. 7: 259 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jara, H. C. 1945. Los trabajos de piscicultura ruraly y repoblaciones en el pais durante el periodo de 1944–1945. Mem. de la Sec. de Marina, 5: 298–310.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jordan, D. S. & C. H. Gilbert. 1882. Synopsis of the fishes of North America. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. 16: 1–1018.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jordan, D. S. & B. W. Everman, 1896. The fishes of North and Middle America. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. 47 (Part I): 1–1240.

  • Kerr, S. R. 1974. Structural analysis of aquatic communities. First Int. Cong. Ecol. The Hague, Netherlands. Cent. for Agric. Publ. Doc. pp. 69–74.

  • Kwain, W. 1975. Embryonic development, early growth, and meristic variation in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) exposed to combinations of light intensity and temperature. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 32: 397–402.

    Google Scholar 

  • Larkin, P. A. 1972. The stock concept and management of Pacific salmon. Univ. British Columbia, H. R. MacMillan Lectures in Fisheries, The Stock Concept in Pacific Salmon, 1972. pp. 27–160.

  • Lindsey, C. C. 1962. Experimental study of meristic variation in a population of threespine sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus. Can. J. Zool. 40: 271–312.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacCrimmon, H. R. 1949. Identification of Atlantic salmon and brown trout based on a comparative morphological study. Can. Fish Cult. 6 (5): 11–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacCrimmon, H. R. 1971. World distribution of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri). J. Fish Res. Board Can. 28: 663–704.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacCrimmon, H. R. & B. L. Gots. 1972. Rainbow trout in the Great Lakes. Ont. Min. Natur. Res. Publ. 66 pp.

  • MacCrimmon, H. R. & W. Kwain. 1969. Influence of light on early development and meristic characters in the rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson. Can. J. Zool. 47: 631–637.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacGregor, R. B. 1975. A taxonomic study of rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, stressing meristics. M.Sc. thesis, Univ. of Guelph, Geulph, Ontario, 200 p.

  • Mahanalobis, P. C., D. N. Mujumdar & C. R. Rao. 1949. Anthropometric survey of the United Provinces, 1941: A Statistical study. Sankhya 9: 89–266.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marr, J. C. 1957. Contributions to the study of subpopulations of fishes. U.S. Fish. Wildl. Serv. Spec. Sci. Rep. Fish. 208, Washington. 129 pp.

  • Mayr, E. 1963. Animal species and evolution. The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass. 797 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayr, E. 1968. The role of systematics in zoology. Science 159: 595–599.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayr, E. 1969. Principles of systematic zoology. McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, St. Louis, San Francisco, Toronto, London, Sydney, 428 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • McPhail, J. D. 1961. A systematic study of the Salvelinus alpinus complex in North America. J. Fish Res. Board Can. 18: 793–816.

    Google Scholar 

  • McPahil, J. D. & C. C. Lindsey. 1970. Freshwater fishes of north-western Canada and Alaska. Fish. Res. Board Can., Bull. 173: 381 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, R. R. 1950. Notes on the cutthroat and rainbow trouts with the description of a new species from the Gila River, New Mexico. Univ. Mich. Mus. Zool. Occas. Papers 529: 1–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mottley, C. McC. 1934. The effect of temperature during development on the number of scales in the kamloops trout, Salmo kamloops. Jordan, Contr. Can. Biol. Fish. 8: 255–263. 263.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mottley, C. McC. 1937. The number of vertebrae in trout (Salmo). J. Biol. Board Can. 3 (2): 169–176.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neave, F. 1943. Scale pattern and scale counting methods in relation to certain trout and other salmonids. Roy. Soc. Can., Proc. ser. 3. 37: 79–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neave, F. 1944. Racial characteristics and migratory habits in Salmo gairdneri. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 6: 245–251.

    Google Scholar 

  • Needham, P. R. & R. Gard. 1959. Rainbow trout in Mexico and California with notes on the cutthroat series. Univ. Calif. Publ. Zool. 67 (1): 1–124.

    Google Scholar 

  • Needham, P. R. & R. Gard. 1964. A new trout from central Mexico, Salmo chrysogaster, the Mexican golden trout. Copeia 1964(1): 169–173.

  • Nie, N. H., C. H. Hull, J. G. Jenkins, K. Steinbrenner & D. H. Bent. 1975. SPSS. Statistical package for the social sciences. McGraw-Hill Book Co., N.Y., 675 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Northcote, T. G., S. N. Williscroft & H. Tsuyuki. 1970. Meristic and lactate dehydrogenase genotype difference in stream populations of rainbow trout below and above a waterfall. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 27: 1987–1995.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orska, V. 1957. The influence of temperature on the development of the skeleton in teleosts. Zool. Poloniae. 7 (3): 271–329.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orska, V. 1962. The influence of temperature on the development of meristic characters of the skeleton in Salmonidae. Part I. Temperature controlled variations of the number of vertebrae in Salmo irrideus Gibbons. Zool. Poloniae 12 (3): 309–340.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ouellette, R. P. & S. U. Qadri. 1968. The discriminatory Power of taxonomic characteristics in separating salmonid fishes. Syst. Zool. 17: 70–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richardson, Sir J. 1836. Fauna Boreali-Americana; or the Zoology of the northern parts of British Americana, containing descriptions of the objects of natural history collected on the late northern land expeditions under command of Captain Sir John Franklin, R.N. Part Third. The Fish: xv-327, 24 coloured plates. 8 vo. Richard Bentley, London.

  • Ricker, W. E. 1972. Hereditary and environmental factors affecting certain salmonid populations. Univ. British Columbia, H. R. MacMillan Lectures in Fisheries, The Stock Concept in Pacific Salmon, 1972. pp. 27–160.

  • Roberts, F. L. 1970. Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) chromosomes and speciation. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc., 99: 105–111.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rounsefell, G. A. 1962. Relationships among North American Salmonidae. US Fish Wildl. Serv. Bull. 209, vol. 62: 235–270.

    Google Scholar 

  • Royce, W. F. 1953. Preliminary report on a comparison of the stocks of yellowfin tuna. Indo-Pac. Fish. Coun., Proc. 4, sect. 2: 130–145.

    Google Scholar 

  • Royce, W. F. 1957. Statistical comparison of morphological data. pp. 7–28. In: J. C. Marr m(ed.), Contributions to the study of subpopulations of fishes. US Fish Wildl. Serv. Spec. Sci. Rep. Fish. 208, Washington.

  • Schreck, C. B. 1969. Trouts of the Upper Kern River Basin, California. M.Sc. thesis, Colorado State Univ., Ft. Collins, Colorado.

  • Schreck, C. B. & R. J. Behnke. 1971. Trouts of the Upper Kern River Basin, California, with reference to systematics and evolution of western North America Salmo. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 28: 987–998.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, G. G., A. Roe & R. C. Lewontin. 1960. Quantitative zoology. Harcourt, Brace, and World Inc., New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Atlanta. 440 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, S. B. 1969. Reproductive isolation in summer and winter races of steelhead trout. Univ. British Columbia, H. R. MacMillan Lectures in Fisheries, Symposium on Salmon and Trout in Streams, 1969. pp. 21–38.

  • Snedecor, G. W. & W. C. Cochran. 1967. Statistical methods, 6th ed. Iowa State Univ. Press, Ames, Iowa, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stone, F. L. 1947. Notes on two darters of the genus Baleosoma. Copeia 1947 (2): 92–96.

  • Suckley, G. 1860. Report upon the fishes collected on the survey No. 5. Chapter 1. Report upon the Salmonidae pp. 307–349. Chapter 2. Report upon the fishes exclusive of the pp. 350–368 in Route near the forty-seventh and forty-ninth parallels, explored by I. I. Stevens, Governor of Washington Territory, in 1853–1855. In: Reports of explorations and surveys to ascertain the most practiceable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean, made under the direction of the Secretary of War in 1853–1855, according to act of Congress of March 3, 1953, May 31, 1954 and August 5, 1854. Vol. 12, Book 2. 36th Congress, 1st session, Senate Executive Document, Washington D.C. Thomas H. Ford Printer.

  • Suckley, G. 1861. On the North American species of salmon and trout (Facsimile reprint 1878) In Rep. US Commissioner 1872–1873, US Comm. Fish. Fisheries, (Ap. B, Part 3): 91–160.

  • Suckley, G. 1862. Descriptions of several new species of Salmonidae from the North-West Coast of America. Lyc. Natur. Hist. N.Y. Annals 7: 1–10 (read 1858).

    Google Scholar 

  • Taning, A. V. 1952. Experimental study of meristic characters in fishes. Biol. Rev. Cambridge Philos. Soc. 27: 169–193.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trautman, M. B. 1957. The fishes of Ohio with illustrated keys. Ohio State Univ. Press, Columbus Ohio. 683 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Utter, F. M., F. W. Allendorf & H. O. Hodgins. 1973. Genetic variability and relationships in Pacific salmon and related trout based on protein variations. Syst. Zool. 22: 257–270.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vernon, E. H. & R. G. McMynn. 1957. Scale characteristics of yearling coastal cutthroat and steelhead trout. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 14: 203–212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vladykov, V. D. 1934. Environmental and taxonomic characters of fishes. Roy. Can. Inst., Trans. 20: 99–140.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vladykov, V. D. 1954. Taxonomic characters of the eastern North American chars (Salvelinus and Cristivomer). J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 11: 904–932.

    Google Scholar 

Personal communications cited

  • Billi, J. 1975. U.S. Dept. Int., Fish Wildl. Serv., Dworshak Nat. Fish Hatchery, Ahsahka, Idaho.

  • Dura, F. R. 1975. Fideicomiso para el Desarrollo de la fauna acautica.

  • Goryczko, K. 1975. Inland Fish, Inst., River Lab., Rytowska 5, Gdansk, Poland.

  • Harrison, A. C. 1974. Cape Piscatorial Soc., 122 Longmarket St., Capetown, South Africa.

  • Hooper, W. A. 1975. Ont. Prov. Fish Hatchery, Normandale, Ontario.

  • Sanchez, A. A. 1974. Proyecto para el desarrollo de la pesca continental, Bogota, Columbia.

  • Smith, D. 1974. Officer-in-charge, Jonkershoek Fish. Sta., Stellenbosh 7600, South Africa.

  • Tagwerker, F. 1976. Spring Valley Front Trout Farm, R.R. no. 2, Petersburg, Ontario, Canada.

  • Wallis, J. 1975. State of Alaska, Dept. Fish Game, Firelake Fish Hatchery, Eagle R., A.K.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

    Robert B. MacGregor & Hugh R. MacCrimmon

Authors
  1. Robert B. MacGregor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hugh R. MacCrimmon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

MacGregor, R.B., MacCrimmon, H.R. Meristic variation among world hatchery stocks of rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson. Environ Biol Fish 1, 127–143 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00000405

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00000405

Keywords

Search

Navigation