GENETIC-STRUCTURE OF EUROPEAN POPULATIONS OF SALMO-SALAR L (ATLANTIC SALMON) INFERRED FROM MITOCHONDRIAL-DNA

The genetic relationships between the only natural population of Atlan tic salmon (Salmo salar L.) in Denmark and seven other European salmon populations were studied using RFLP analysis of PCR amplified mitocho ndrial DNA segments. Six different haplotypes were detected by restric tion enzyme analyses of the NADH dehydrogenase 1 segment, employing fo ur endonucleases. Significant genetic differentiation was observed amo ng populations. A hierarchical analysis of the distribution of the mtD NA variability revealed that only a small part was distributed among g eographical groups within the study area. No correlation was found bet ween genetic and geographic distance among populations. The effective migration of females (Nm)(F) among rivers was estimated to be approxim ately one per generation.