Data from: Striking phenotypic variation yet low genetic differentiation in sympatric lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush)

Link copied to clipboard!

View this record at source repository

---

Description:

The study of population differentiation in the context of ecological speciation is commonly assessed using populations with obvious discreteness. Fewer studies have examined diversifying populations with occasional adaptive variation and minor reproductive isolation, so factors impeding or facilitating the progress of early stage differentiation are less understood. We detected non-random genetic structuring in lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) inhabiting a large, pristine, postglacial lake (Mistassini Lake, Canada), with up to five discernible genetic clusters having distinctions in body shape, size, colouration and head shape. However, genetic differentiation was low (FST = 0.017) and genetic clustering was largely incongruent between several population- and individual-based clustering approaches. Genotype- and phenotype-environment associations with spatial habitat, depth and fish community structure (competitors and prey) were either inconsistent or weak. Striking morphological variation was often more continuous within than among defined genetic clusters. Low genetic differentiation was a consequence of relatively high contemporary gene flow despite large effective population sizes, not migration-drift disequilibrium. Our results suggest a highly plastic propensity for occupying multiple habitat niches in lake trout and a low cost of morphological plasticity, which may constrain the speed and extent of adaptive divergence. We discuss how factors relating to niche conservatism in this species may also influence how plasticity affects adaptive divergence, even where ample ecological opportunity apparently exists.

Usage Notes:

MARIN_Mistassini_lake trout

All genetic, morphological and ecological data used for analyses in Striking Phenotypic Variation Yet Low Genetic Differentiation in Sympatric Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush). The file contains genotypes, relative warp scores, total length (mm), mass (g), colour, depth (m below surface), basin and sector.

---

Author(s):

Marin, Kia

Marin, Kia

Concordia University

, Coon, Andrew

Coon, Andrew

Tourism Department, Cree Nation of Mistissini, Québec, Canada

, Carson, Robert

Carson, Robert

Concordia University

, Debes, Paul V.

Debes, Paul V.

University of Turku

, and Fraser, Dylan J.

Fraser, Dylan J.

Concordia University

---

Source Repository:

Dryad

Publisher(s):

Dryad

---

Access:

Public

---

URL:

http://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.qs1h4

---

Publication date:

2017-08-26

---

Keywords:

salmonidae, population differentiation

---

Identifier:

https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.qs1h4

---

APA Citation:

Marin, K., Coon, A., Carson, R., Debes, P. V., & Fraser, D. J. (2017). Data from: Striking phenotypic variation yet low genetic differentiation in sympatric lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) [Data set]. Dryad. http://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.qs1h4

Citation copied to clipboard

Copy Citation

---

Export to citation manager:

Download bibtex file (.bib)

---