Microsatellite variation in white-spotted char Salvelinus leucomaenis from Sakhalin oblast

A panel of 12 polymorphic microsatellite markers was developed for the population genetic studies of white-spotted char Salvelinus leucomaenis. The four population samples examined consisted of 48 individuals each, and were collected in different geographical regions, including Sakhalin Island, Kunashir Island, and Iturup Island (two samples). The total number of different-sized alleles at different loci varied in the range of 2-31. In the population of white-spotted char subjected to strong anthropogenic pressure allelic diversity and expected heterozygosity indices were found to be lower than in wild populations of this species. The considerable genetic subdivision of different insular populations of white-spotted char observed was consistent with isolation by the distance model.