Genetic architecture of survival and fitness-related traits in two populations of
Atlantic salmon |
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Authors: | A LS Houde C C Wilson B D Neff |
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Institution: | 1.Department of Biology, University of Western
Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada;2.Aquatic Research and Development Section,
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada |
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Abstract: | The additive genetic effects of traits can be used to predict evolutionary trajectories,
such as responses to selection. Non-additive genetic and maternal environmental effects
can also change evolutionary trajectories and influence phenotypes, but these effects have
received less attention by researchers. We partitioned the phenotypic variance of survival
and fitness-related traits into additive genetic, non-additive genetic and maternal
environmental effects using a full-factorial breeding design within two allopatric
populations of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Maternal environmental effects were
large at early life stages, but decreased during development, with non-additive genetic
effects being most significant at later juvenile stages (alevin and fry). Non-additive
genetic effects were also, on average, larger than additive genetic effects. The
populations, generally, did not differ in the trait values or inferred genetic
architecture of the traits. Any differences between the populations for trait values could
be explained by maternal environmental effects. We discuss whether the similarities in
architectures of these populations is the result of natural selection across a common
juvenile environment. |
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Keywords: | maternal environmental effects additive genetic effects non-additive genetic effects life-history morphology conservation |
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