POPULATION STRUCTURE IN THREE SPECIES OF CO‐DISTRIBUTED SALMONID FISHES IN THE PEACE RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES NEAR A MAJOR PROPOSED HYDROELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT IN NORTHEASTERN BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

摘要: Dam construction and reservoir formation represent profound anthropogenic alterations to natural riverscapes, especially in terms of connectivity migratory fishes. The Peace River northeastern British Columbia (BC), Canada, is the largest river system BC, home 39 native fishes currently has two major hydroelectric projects, a third one (‘Site C’) proposed. Three co-distributed fishes, bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus), Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) are key species ecologically recreational fisheries. We examined microsatellite DNA variation these assess genetic diversity, levels population subdivision better understand potential impacts provide baseline information for subsequent monitoring. Expected heterozygosity number alleles averaged 0.65 7.7, 0.73 11.9, 0.72 10.8 (nine loci), (10 loci) respectively. Estimates effective breeders (Nb) ranged from 35 255 over 3700 grayling. Population (FST, θ) was 0.040, 0.063 0.023 trout, whitefish, respectively (all p < 0.001). Temporal differences within localities all accounted <1% total allele frequencies. An estimated 6.2% (mountain whitefish), 4.6% (bull trout) 8.8% (Arctic grayling) fish samples were inferred (p < 0.05) be immigrants locality another locality. Our results suggest that amongst important successful completion life history each species, disruption which will critical aspect post-development Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.