Genetic studies in Scottish Brown Trout (Salmo Trutta L.,)

Abstract

The Scottish brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) is identified as an important resource which requires responsible and continual management. This study was divided into two parts; an electrophoretic survey of wild trout populations in Scotland, and a quantitative assessment of the genetic component to growth rate in various stocks, grown under hatchery and farm conditions. Sixty wild populations were sampled by various methods. All fish were typed using brain, eye, heart, liver and muscle tissue and starch gel electrophoresis for thirty four enzyme loci, thirteen of which were found to be polymorphic. Gene diversity analysis was conducted on the data collected, 33% of the diversity being attributed to differences between populations, much of the variation was thought to be due to founder effects. Evidence is presented to support a hypothesis that the trout in Scotland are derived from two main post glacial invasion stocks. Future management strategies for wild stocks of Scottish brown trout are discussed. Growth trials were conducted at Howietoun fish farm in order to calculate heritability estimates for growth rate. Hierarchical and factoral crossing schemes were employed, using broodstock from three stocks. Heritability estimates for growth rate were found to be high and it was concluded, significant genetic gains could be achieved if growth rate was the only trait of commercial interest and truncated mass selection was adopted. Attempts were made to investigate the relationship between heterozygosity and growth rate in the hatchery populations. It was concluded that more data were required to make a meaningful assessment, but from this study little evidence exists for a positive correlation between heterozygosity and growth rate. Correlations between early life cycle stages and subsequent growth are discussed.