Outbreeding depression and inheritance in three generations of geographically distinct southeast Alaska coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) populations

Abstract

I observed no fitness losses among F₂ hybrids of three Southeast Alaska coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) populations relative to parental controls. Marine survival did not differ among groups in one generation, but was greater for hybrids than controls in another, although the power of these tests was low. Increases in fluctuating asymmetry, which can signal losses in fitness, were not observed. Line cross analyses of length suggested additive and additive plus dominance gene action, and two of three analyses suggested epistasis. In contrast, meristic characters exhibited little variability; and in most cases tests failed to reject a simple additive model. Half- and full-sib analyses provided no evidence of quantitative genetic variation for any trait although the power to detect these effects was low. Comparisons of population divergence measured by quantitative traits (Qst) and molecular markers (Fst) that length is an adaptive trait and that bilateral meristics are highly conserved. Although we did not observe losses in fitness, the power of our tests was low, the among-population differences were unique to our experiment and so results of this study should be interpreted with caution.