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Alternative developmental pathways and the propensity to migrate: a case study in the Atlantic salmon
D J Páez1, C Brisson-Bonenfant, O Rossignol
1Centre Interuniversitaire de Recherche sur le Saumon Atlantique (CIRSA) and Québec-Océan, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada. david.paez.1@ulaval.ca
Journal of Evolutionary Biology
|November 4, 2010
Summary
Atlantic salmon exhibit a strong genetic predisposition for seaward migration. This heritable trait influences the timing and size at which juvenile salmon migrate, indicating a significant role for genetics in adaptive migratory behavior.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Migratory behavior is an adaptive strategy offering survival and reproductive benefits.
- Migrant phenotypes are thought to develop via threshold mechanisms based on body size.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the genetic basis of seaward migration propensity in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.).
- To determine if additive genetic effects influence the liability and size thresholds for emigration.
Main Methods:
- Field data collection on Atlantic salmon populations.
- Common rearing experiments to control environmental variables.
- Analysis of heritability for emigration liability and size thresholds.
Main Results:
- High heritability was observed for the liability trait underlying emigration propensity in juvenile salmon.
- Significant sire-specific differences in body-size thresholds for emigration were identified.
- Additive genetic variance was present in both migration liability and threshold traits.
Conclusions:
- The onset of seaward migration in Atlantic salmon is sensitive to natural selection due to its genetic basis.
- Genetic variation in migration traits may explain interpopulation differences in migration size.
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