Genetic Marker-Assisted Management of Virginia Sport Fishes

Molecular genetic markers can be used to assess genetic diversity, assign parentage, quantify inbreeding, and demonstrate structuring of populations across a system. Striped Bass Morone saxatilis, and Walleye Sander vitreus, are widely sought gamefishes in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Striped Bass along the Atlantic Coast and within the Roanoke River drainage exhibit low genetic variation. Screening 12 microsatellite DNA markers across the range to define population genetic structure, I found that anadromous populations in the Southeast and the Chesapeake Bay were differentiated from landlocked populations in the Roanoke River basin, with an average FST of 0.066. Range-wide, Striped Bass are differentiated between the landlocked and anadromous populations, which need to be managed separately. Within stocked populations in the Roanoke River basin, there have been impacts stemming from small numbers of broodstock propagated, and inter-individual relatedness is ~20% within stocked reservoirs. Walleye across the eastern native range were screened to better understand evolutionary history and to identify native marker alleles for the upper New River population. Population genetic variation at eight microsatellite loci showed differentiated stocks in Alabama, Mississippi River, Eastern Highlands (Tennessee, New, and Ohio Rivers), and the Great Lakes drainages. All estimates of effective numbers of breeding individuals were under 25, and all populations within all watersheds had ~15-20% inter-individual relatedness, likely effects of both natural demographic processes and stocking. The extent of Eastern Highlands Walleye includes both the Ohio and Tennessee basins. Although I did not identify new marker alleles for native New River Walleye, I determined that marker-assisted selection has increased the frequencies of existing marker alleles for the native stock. Application of the results of this project will contribute to better fisheries management for both of these important species.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Fisheries and Wildlife Science

Department dc:contributor.department

Fish and Wildlife Conservation

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2020

Author dc:creator

• Harris, Sheila Catherine

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Hallerman, Eric M.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Frimpong, Emmanuel A.
• Orth, Donald J.

• Striped Bass
• Walleye
• population genetics
• marker-assisted selection
• fishery management

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:23289

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/98505