The Time of Origin and Genetic Diversity of Three Isolated Kokanee Populations in Southwest Alaska

Abstract

We examined the time of origin and genetic diversity of native kokanee, the nonanadromous ecotype of Sockeye Salmon Oncorhynchus nerka, from three isolated lakes in the Katmai National Park and Preserve in southwest Alaska. These kokanee evolved independently from Sockeye Salmon when migration barriers arose, blocking ocean access. We used information about the relative age of each barrier to hypothesize the relative time of origin for kokanee in each lake. In addition, we used data from 13 microsatellite loci to test our time of origin hypotheses and assess genetic diversity of kokanee from these three lakes and proximate Sockeye Salmon populations. Coalescent-based estimates of the time of origin for kokanee in Jo-Jo Lake (170 years before present [ybp]) and Devil’s Cove Lake (6,583 ybp) were consistent with the relative age of barriers isolating each lake. However, data from Dakavak Lake (1,379 ybp) suggested that the barrier was older than hypothesized. Indices of intrapopulation diversity were lower for kokanee than for Sockeye Salmon. Estimates for kokanee population divergence (R_ST; the F_ST analog for microsatellites) among the three lakes were consistent with time of origin estimates. Furthermore, the most recently isolated kokanee (Jo-Jo Lake population) were most closely related to neighboring Sockeye Salmon. Only the kokanee from Jo-Jo Lake exhibited a relatively low historical effective population size (N_e ≈ 107) and evidence of a genetic bottleneck. Taken together, the results of this study show that although rare, kokanee in Alaska are not ephemeral and can persist in isolation for hundreds of generations despite the colder temperatures and shorter growing season, that are thought to limit their sustainability in Alaska.

Received April 26, 2017; accepted July 25, 2017 Published online September 25, 2017

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Partial funding for this study was provided by the National Park Service, Alaska Region, KATM and by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Region, Conservation Genetics Laboratory. The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.