Importance of tributary streams for rainbow trout reproduction: insights from a small stream in Georgia and a bi-genomic approach

River Research and Applications
Oklahoma State University; Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation; US Geological Survey; US Fish and Wildlife Service; Wildlife Management Institute
By: , and 

Links

Abstract

Tributaries of tailwater fisheries in the southeastern USA have been used for spawning by stocked rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), but their importance may have been underestimated using traditional fish survey methods such as electrofishing and redd counts. We used a bi-genomic approach, mitochondrial DNA sequences and nuclear microsatellite loci, to estimate the number of spawning adults in one small tributary (Cabin Creek) of the Chattahoochee River, Georgia, where rainbow trout are known to spawn and have successful recruitment. We extracted and analysed DNA from seven mature male rainbow trout and four juveniles that were captured in February 2006 in Cabin Creek and from 24 young-of-year (YOY) trout that were captured in April 2006. From these samples, we estimated that 24 individuals were spawning to produce the amount of genetic variation observed in the juveniles and YOY, although none of the mature males we sampled were indicated as sires. Analysis of the mitochondrial D-loop region identified four distinct haplotypes, suggesting that individuals representing four maternal lineages contributed to the offspring. Our analyses indicated that many more adults were spawning in this system than previously estimated with direct count methods and provided insight into rainbow trout spawning behavior.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Importance of tributary streams for rainbow trout reproduction: insights from a small stream in Georgia and a bi-genomic approach
Series title River Research and Applications
DOI 10.1002/rra.1556
Volume 28
Issue 9
Year Published 2012
Language English
Publisher John Wiley & Sons
Publisher location Chichester, West Sussex, UK
Contributing office(s) Coop Res Unit Atlanta
Description 7 p.
First page 1587
Last page 1593
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details