Genetic divergence of kingfish from Japan, Australia and New Zealand inferred by microsatellite DNA and mitochondrial DNA control region markers

ABSTRACT: Genetic polymorphism in kingfish, collected from coastal waters of Japan, Australia and New Zealand, were examined using microsatellite (MS) DNA and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region markers. Sixteen to 25.7 alleles per locus were observed in three MS markers, while the average observed (and expected) heterozygosities were 0.782 (0.918), 0.750 (0.809) and 0.650 (0.888) for Australian, Japanese and New Zealand kingfish, respectively. Twelve mtDNA haplotypes were detected by the digestion of control region sequences with five endonucleases: Hae III, Hinf I Mbo I, Rsa I and Taq I. Significant genetic divergence was observed between the kingfish population from Japan and those from Australia–New Zealand. There was no significant differentiation among the Australian and New Zealand population samples.     

Microsatellite variability in natural populations of the blackspot seabream Pagellus bogaraveo (Brünnick, 1768): a database to access parentage assignment in aquaculture

Eight microsatellite loci previously reported were assessed for their utility in parentage assignment in 96 individuals belonging to natural populations of the blackspot seabream Pagellus bogaraveo (Brünnick, 1768) from the Mediterranean and Northeast Atlantic regions. At the mtDNA level, no differentiation was found between these two regions but based on microsatellite data an overall discrete genetic differentiation is perceivable between the two regions separated by the Strait of Gibraltar. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 8 to 30. A database constructed with allele frequency data from six populations was used in a simulation parentage assignment test using the software cervus . The test showed that the number of markers used is enough to perform parentage assignments with real data. The polymorphic information content for each locus was very high (mean value of 0.849), with a total exclusionary power of 0.9995. In summary, seven of the eight microsatellites analysed proved to be sufficient and powerful tools for parentage assignment in hatcheries and the allele frequency data given here can be used to perform pedigree analysis against which real data may be tested.     

Genetic covariation in production traits of sub-adult black bream Acanthopagrus butcheri after grow-out

Predicting the suitability and reliability of traits associated with juvenile growth as indirect selection criteria for choosing future broodstock requires accurate and repeatable estimates of genetic (co)variation for growth traits at different ages. We compared juvenile wet weight of black bream Acanthopagrus butcheri (Munro) at 6 months of age with wet weight, dressed weight, fillet yield and gonad weight in tagged individuals at 18 months of age, following 12 months of farm grow‐out. Fish survival and tag retention was high, and there was significant among‐family variation for all traits. The phenotypic correlations among wet weight, dressed weight and fillet yield at 18 months of age were very high (0.93–0.97) and similar to their genetic correlations (0.96). Importantly, the phenotypic correlations between wet weight at 6 months and wet weight, dressed weight and fillet yield at 18 months were high (0.63–0.65), and so too were their genetic correlations (0.66–0.73), indicating the potential for using wet weight in the hatchery as a selection criterion for improved weight and meat yield of fish at harvest. Gonad weight shared little or no phenotypic or genetic correlation with these other traits, suggesting that selection for faster growing fish will not affect fecundity or sexual maturation rate. It appears, however, that cultured black bream do become sexually mature more rapidly than wild fish, as 78% of all fish harvested in this study had developing or mature gonads, whereas less than 50% of fish in wild populations are reproductively mature by the same age. Precocious sexual development may lead to uncontrolled spawning in grow‐out ponds and a potential loss of selection gains.     

文蛤北方种群生化遗传结构与变异的研究

采用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳技术,对文蛤5个北方种群进行了生化遗传分析。结果表明:文蛤5个天然种群的多态座位比例为0.475±0.064;平均杂合度为0.212±0.026,总体上遗传多样性较好,遗传变异水平较高。在各多态座位中有78.95%的座位符合Hardy-W e inberg平衡,有65.79%的座位d值为正,34.21%的座位为近交座位,存在近交,但近交程度不高。通过聚类分析可以初步判定,这5个群体同属于一个种,种群间由于地理隔离已形成了不同的地理种群。     

Quantitative genetic parameter estimates for size and growth rate traits in Pacific white shrimp, Penaeus vannamei (Boone 1931) when reared indoors

Heritabilities of size traits and growth rate traits, as well as genetic, phenotypic and environmental correlations were estimated at three ages for a captive population of Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) grown indoors. A covariate, mean size or mean growth rate during early growth in individual tanks before tagging and mixing, was introduced in the analyses to reduce the error caused by unique previous growth conditions on variance components. Heritabilities of size traits increased with age, with the h² for TL, AL, TWt and Wi1AS being 0.15, 0.20, 0.20 and 0.22, respectively, at 17 weeks, increasing to 0.28, 0.33, 0.34 and 0.35 at 29 weeks of age. Heritabilities of growth rate traits estimated between consecutive growth periods decreased from the first (h² for ΔTL 0.65, ΔAL 0.71, ΔTWt 0.63 and ΔWi1AS 0.84) to the second period (h² for ΔTL 0.34, ΔAL 0.50, ΔTWt 0.54 and ΔWi1AS 0.52). Phenotypic correlations were always larger than genetic correlations for both, size and growth rate traits. Genetic correlations between size traits within age were high (r_G >0.95), but those between the same size trait at different ages decreased as the age difference increased in spite of a consistently high environmental correlation (r_E 0.80–0.85) between the same trait at different ages. Phenotypic and genetic correlation's between the same growth rate trait at the two different growth periods evaluated were negative or zero (r_G TL –0.26, AL –0.24, Wi1AS 0.00) with the exception of total weight (r_G TW 0.35) and the environmental correlations between growth periods were also low (r_E 0.13–0.32).     

Population structure of the migratory fish Prochilodus lineatus (Characiformes) from rio Grande basin (Brazil), an area fragmented by dams

• 1. Prochilodus lineatus (Prochilodontidae, Characiformes) is a migratory species of great economic importance both in fisheries and aquaculture that is found throughout the Jacuí, Paraíba do Sul, Paraná, Paraguay and Uruguay river basins in South America. Earlier population studies of P. lineatus in the rio Grande basin (Paraná basin) indicated the existence of a single population; however, the range of this species has been fragmented by the construction of several dams. Such dams modified the environmental conditions and could have constrained the reproductive migration of P. lineatus, possibly leading to changes in the population genetic structure.
• 2. In order to evaluate how genetic diversity is allocated in the rio Grande basin, 141 specimens of P. lineatus from eight collection sites were analysed using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) with 15 restriction enzymes.
• 3. Forty‐six haplotypes were detected, and 70% of them are restricted. The mean genetic variability indexes (h = 0.7721 and π = 1.6%) were similar to those found in natural populations with a large effective size. Fst and Exact Test values indicated a lack of structuring among the samples, and the model of isolation by distance was tested and rejected.
• 4. The haplotype network indicated that this population of P. lineatus has been maintained as a single variable stock with some differences in the genetic composition (haplotypes) between samples. Indications of population expansion were detected, and this finding was supported by neutrality tests and mismatch distribution analyses.
• 5. The present study focused on regions between dams to serve as a parameter for further evaluations of genetic variability and the putative impact of dams and repopulation programmes in natural populations of P. lineatus. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

     

Interactive mapping of urban tree benefits using Google Fusion Tables and API technologies

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and web-based GIS platforms are typically used by large organizations and government agencies for the purpose of data storage, query, analysis, and spatial data mapping. Google Fusion Tables, however, provides cloud-based computing services for data management and easy user collaboration through the Google Maps interface. Fusion Tables are oriented towards smaller organizations that previously were unable to publish data online due to limitations of database knowledge, high cost of start-up, and restrictions on implementation. In this research project, we assess the functionality and limitations of Fusion Tables and associated API as a spatial data management system by programming an interactive web-based mapping platform, the CityTrees.ca Project, designed to showcase the benefits of trees growing on the campus of Ryerson University, Toronto. Specifically, Fusion Tables functionality, such as data storage and manipulation, is used to build a query interface (both attribute and spatial) that permits users of CityTrees.ca to search for and map trees by species, diameter, height, and location. We found that Fusion Tables performed well as a storage medium for our campus tree data, which could easily be explored through our creation of a JavaScript-enabled query tool. Our project provides a unique roadmap for small to medium-sized urban forestry organizations and environmental non-profits seeking to create interactive mapping applications where data privacy and advanced spatial analysis are not fundamental.     

牙鲆"鲆优2号"不同养殖地点生长和存活性状的基因型与环境互作分析

为比较牙鲆"鲆优2号"在不同养殖地区的生长和存活性能,实验利用连续多代对生长性状和抗迟缓爱德华氏菌病性状遗传参数评估和基因组选择的结果筛选出的亲本,建立28个"鲆优2号"家系,在河北(Site 1)和山东(Site 2)进行对比养殖试验,利用混合线性动物模型对生长和存活性状进行了基因型与环境互作分析。Site 1和Site 2的平均日增重分别为1.5和1.2 g/d,养殖成活率分别为81.4%和82.2%,"鲆优2号"在两个养殖地点的生长和抗病性能均表现优异。不同养殖环境间收获体质量和存活性状的遗传相关分别为0.57(<0.7)和0.82(>0.7),说明不同养殖环境间收获体质量存在显著的基因型与环境互作效应,但是不同养殖环境间存活性状的基因型与环境互作效应不显著。研究表明,牙鲆"鲆优2号"新品种在不同养殖地点的生长和存活性能均表现良好,为保证良好的推广效果,需要对牙鲆的制种方案进一步优化,针对不同的养殖地区进行"鲆优2号"苗种生产,或培育具有普适性的"鲆优2号"苗种,保证在不同养殖环境下的快速生长和高存活率优势。     

Genetic identification of native populations of fluvial white-spotted charr <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvelinus leucomaenis</Emphasis> in the upper Tone River drainage

ABSTRACT:   Stocking of exogenous, hatchery-reared white-spotted charr Salvelinus leucomaenis has been conducted throughout much of their range in Honshu Island, Japan, to increase angling opportunities. Although the native charr populations are thought to have declined because of hybridization with introduced fish, their distribution and genetic status have been uncertain. Fine population structures of charr in the upper Tone River drainage were examined using mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite analyses so as to clarify the presence of native populations. One common mtDNA haplotype was detected in all populations in the Ohashi River and Watarase River, and four and one tributary populations were monomorphic for such haplotypes, respectively. However, several haplotypes, considered to have originated from stocked hatchery fish, were observed in the stocked and the remaining populations. Judging from the genetic integrity over a fine geographic scale, the former were considered as indicative of native populations and the latter as admixtures with hatchery fish. Comparisons of genetic diversity, deviations from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, principal component analysis, and relatedness estimations based on microsatellite DNA can also provide evidence for distinguishing native populations from those influenced by hatchery fish.     

热带水稻优异种质资源的表型遗传多样性分析

有效管理和充分挖掘遗传多样性丰富的稻种资源对水稻育种具有重要意义。利用15个表型性状对来自9个热带国家和地区的127份热带水稻育种优异种质进行综合评价,比较分析不同来源热带水稻优异种质的表型差异和遗传多样性指数。结果表明：热带水稻种质资源表型性状差异明显,数量性状的变异系数为7.0%～23.8%,平均为12.04%,其中单株穗数比较大,谷粒长较小;Shannon-Wiener多样性指数分析结果表明,15个表型性状遗传多样性指数变化为0.603～2.066,平均为1.579,其中每穗总粒数比较高,穗型较小;9个不同来源地的热带水稻资源多样性指数为0.780～1.547,平均为1.219。不同来源的热带水稻种质各性状变异范围较大,各性状间存在显著差异,遗传多样性指数较高,可进一步发掘优异资源和有利基因,为培育和筛选优良热带水稻品种提供亲本来源。