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Genetic diversity and effective size of Atlantic sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrhinchus oxyrhinchus river spawning populations estimated from the microsatellite genotypes of marine-captured juveniles

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Abstract

Juvenile Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrhinchus oxyrhinchus) forming aggregations at coastal sites in the mid-Atlantic Bight were subjected to a mixed stock analysis (MSA) and individual-based assignment using twelve microsatellite loci. We confirmed earlier findings from an analysis of mitochondrial DNA that three river spawning populations (Hudson, James and Delaware Rivers) are the primary sources of these particular marine aggregations. Of the 460 individuals sampled 322, 36 and 47 were assigned to the Hudson, James and Delaware Rivers, respectively. MSA estimated that the New York Bight Distinct Population Segment (Hudson River and Delaware River) contributed 83–90 % of individuals to the marine aggregations and the Chesapeake (James River) and Southeast Distinct Population Segments contributed 5.5–11 %. Mean M-ratios were lower than expected at equilibrium in all three rivers (Delaware = 0.726, Hudson = 0.748, James = 0.664), indicative of genetic bottlenecks affecting all three spawning populations. Further, there were low but detectable levels of inbreeding in all three rivers populations. Effective population size (Ne) was estimated for three populations: Hudson River (172–230 individuals), James River (40–100 individuals) and Delaware River (75–186 individuals). Despite these issues, simulations based on life-history information and the Ne estimates suggest that if ongoing management measures are effective, contemporary levels of population genetic diversity are likely to be retained over the next century.

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Acknowledgments

Funding for this study was provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Protected Resources Proactive Species Grants Program (NOAA Award NA10NMF4720039), US Fish and Wildlife Service State Wildlife Grant through the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC). K. Dunton was also funded under the Hudson River Foundation Graduate Fellowship Program (award 55359). We thank project collaborators Kim McKown of the NYDEC and Adrian Jordaan of the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Additionally, we thank M. Wiggins, S. Cluett, and rest of R.V. Seawolf for assistance in collection of samples and graduate students Chris Martinez and Josh Zacharias for assistance in the field.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11733, USA

    Shannon J. O’Leary, Keith J. Dunton, Michael G. Frisk & Demian D. Chapman

  2. Biological Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey, Aquatic Ecology Laboratory, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA

    Tim L. King

  3. Institute for Ocean Conservation Science, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11733, USA

    Demian D. Chapman

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  1. Shannon J. O’Leary
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Correspondence to Shannon J. O’Leary.

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O’Leary, S.J., Dunton, K.J., King, T.L. et al. Genetic diversity and effective size of Atlantic sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrhinchus oxyrhinchus river spawning populations estimated from the microsatellite genotypes of marine-captured juveniles. Conserv Genet 15, 1173–1181 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-014-0609-9

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