SINGLE-LOCUS MINISATELLITE DNA VARIATION IN EUROPEAN POPULATIONS OF ATLANTIC SALMON (SALMO-SALAR L.)

The genetic variability of four wild populations (Ireland, Scotland, a nd Spain) and a farmed strain (Norwegian Mowi origin) of Atlantic salm on (Salmo salar) was examined at four minisatellite DNA loci. Several year classes were included for three of the groups in order to assess temporal stability. All samples proved to be highly polymorphic with f ive, seven, eight, and twelve alleles present at the four loci overall . Mean heterozygosity values ranged from 0.42-0.65 with the farmed str ain exhibiting the lowest value. Gene diversity analysis indicated tha t 85.4% of the total gene diversity was attributable to among individu al variation within a sample, 0.9%, among year classes, and 13.7% attr ibutable to among group variation. These single locus minisatellite DN A probes proved to be highly informative and were successfully employe d to determine the extent of genetic variation within and among the At lantic salmon populations studied.