On the population genetic structure of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in the Kurile Lake

Genetic structure of sockeye salmon population in the Kurile Lake was examined for 9 microsatellite loci. Average estimates of heterozygosity for different loci ranged from 0.260 to 0.906. Pairwise differentiation ( F st ) analysis showed differences between samples of different seasonal forms only. The results of the study based on Bayesian clustering of samples in the software package “Structure” allowed us to identify two clearly separating clusters coinciding with the separation of samples by spawning time. The results revealed that all samples of the early run had passed the bottle-neck stage. The observed decline in stock abundance is most likely relatively recent.