Judging a salmon by its spots: environmental variation is the primary determinant of spot patterns in Salmo salar
Abstract Background In fish, morphological colour changes occur from variations in pigment concentrations and in the morphology, density, and distribution of chromatophores in the skin. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unresolved in most species. Here, we describe the first investigation in...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Ecology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12898-018-0170-3 |
| _version_ | 1818718375832977408 |
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| author | Katarina M. Jørgensen Monica F. Solberg Francois Besnier Anders Thorsen Per Gunnar Fjelldal Øystein Skaala Ketil Malde Kevin A. Glover |
| author_facet | Katarina M. Jørgensen Monica F. Solberg Francois Besnier Anders Thorsen Per Gunnar Fjelldal Øystein Skaala Ketil Malde Kevin A. Glover |
| author_sort | Katarina M. Jørgensen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background In fish, morphological colour changes occur from variations in pigment concentrations and in the morphology, density, and distribution of chromatophores in the skin. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unresolved in most species. Here, we describe the first investigation into the genetic and environmental basis of spot pattern development in one of the world’s most studied fishes, the Atlantic salmon. We reared 920 salmon from 64 families of domesticated, F1-hybrid and wild origin in two contrasting environments (Hatchery; tanks for the freshwater stage and sea cages for the marine stage, and River; a natural river for the freshwater stage and tanks for the marine stage). Fish were measured, photographed and spot patterns evaluated. Results In the Hatchery experiment, significant but modest differences in spot density were observed among domesticated, F1-hybrid (1.4-fold spottier than domesticated) and wild salmon (1.7-fold spottier than domesticated). A heritability of 6% was calculated for spot density, and a significant QTL on linkage group SSA014 was detected. In the River experiment, significant but modest differences in spot density were also observed among domesticated, F1-hybrid (1.2-fold spottier than domesticated) and wild salmon (1.8-fold spottier than domesticated). Domesticated salmon were sevenfold spottier in the Hatchery vs. River experiment. While different wild populations were used for the two experiments, on average, these were 6.2-fold spottier in the Hatchery vs. River experiment. Fish in the Hatchery experiment displayed scattered to random spot patterns while fish in the River experiment displayed clustered spot patterns. Conclusions These data demonstrate that while genetics plays an underlying role, environmental variation represents the primary determinant of spot pattern development in Atlantic salmon. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T19:50:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-88e52a3db5694d358d68c38c6b58b034 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6785 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T19:50:03Z |
| publishDate | 2018-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Ecology |
| spelling | doaj.art-88e52a3db5694d358d68c38c6b58b0342022-12-21T21:34:45ZengBMCBMC Ecology1472-67852018-04-0118111310.1186/s12898-018-0170-3Judging a salmon by its spots: environmental variation is the primary determinant of spot patterns in Salmo salarKatarina M. Jørgensen0Monica F. Solberg1Francois Besnier2Anders Thorsen3Per Gunnar Fjelldal4Øystein Skaala5Ketil Malde6Kevin A. Glover7Institute of Marine ResearchInstitute of Marine ResearchInstitute of Marine ResearchInstitute of Marine ResearchInstitute of Marine Research, Matre Research StationInstitute of Marine ResearchInstitute of Marine ResearchInstitute of Marine ResearchAbstract Background In fish, morphological colour changes occur from variations in pigment concentrations and in the morphology, density, and distribution of chromatophores in the skin. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unresolved in most species. Here, we describe the first investigation into the genetic and environmental basis of spot pattern development in one of the world’s most studied fishes, the Atlantic salmon. We reared 920 salmon from 64 families of domesticated, F1-hybrid and wild origin in two contrasting environments (Hatchery; tanks for the freshwater stage and sea cages for the marine stage, and River; a natural river for the freshwater stage and tanks for the marine stage). Fish were measured, photographed and spot patterns evaluated. Results In the Hatchery experiment, significant but modest differences in spot density were observed among domesticated, F1-hybrid (1.4-fold spottier than domesticated) and wild salmon (1.7-fold spottier than domesticated). A heritability of 6% was calculated for spot density, and a significant QTL on linkage group SSA014 was detected. In the River experiment, significant but modest differences in spot density were also observed among domesticated, F1-hybrid (1.2-fold spottier than domesticated) and wild salmon (1.8-fold spottier than domesticated). Domesticated salmon were sevenfold spottier in the Hatchery vs. River experiment. While different wild populations were used for the two experiments, on average, these were 6.2-fold spottier in the Hatchery vs. River experiment. Fish in the Hatchery experiment displayed scattered to random spot patterns while fish in the River experiment displayed clustered spot patterns. Conclusions These data demonstrate that while genetics plays an underlying role, environmental variation represents the primary determinant of spot pattern development in Atlantic salmon.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12898-018-0170-3Atlantic salmonIntrogressionEnvironmentGeneticsAquacultureInteraction |
| spellingShingle | Katarina M. Jørgensen Monica F. Solberg Francois Besnier Anders Thorsen Per Gunnar Fjelldal Øystein Skaala Ketil Malde Kevin A. Glover Judging a salmon by its spots: environmental variation is the primary determinant of spot patterns in Salmo salar BMC Ecology Atlantic salmon Introgression Environment Genetics Aquaculture Interaction |
| title | Judging a salmon by its spots: environmental variation is the primary determinant of spot patterns in Salmo salar |
| title_full | Judging a salmon by its spots: environmental variation is the primary determinant of spot patterns in Salmo salar |
| title_fullStr | Judging a salmon by its spots: environmental variation is the primary determinant of spot patterns in Salmo salar |
| title_full_unstemmed | Judging a salmon by its spots: environmental variation is the primary determinant of spot patterns in Salmo salar |
| title_short | Judging a salmon by its spots: environmental variation is the primary determinant of spot patterns in Salmo salar |
| title_sort | judging a salmon by its spots environmental variation is the primary determinant of spot patterns in salmo salar |
| topic | Atlantic salmon Introgression Environment Genetics Aquaculture Interaction |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12898-018-0170-3 |
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