Genetic characterization of naturalized populations of brown trout Salmo trutta L. in southern Chile using allozyme and microsatellite markers

This study describes the genetic structure of five naturalized populations of brown trout in southern Chile using allozyme and microsatellite markers to establish levels of intra- and interpopulation genetic variability and divergence. Fourteen enzymatic systems were used comprising 20 loci and three microsatellite loci specific to brown trout. The genetic variability values (allozymes, P=20-35%, average=27%, HO=0.118-0.160, average=0.141; microsatellites, P=33.3-100%, average=66.66%, HO=0.202-0.274, average=0.229) are similar to values described in other naturalized populations of brown trout present in Chile, but higher than those observed in European populations of this species. Values of total genetic diversity (HT) (allozymes=0.1216 and microsatellites=0.3504) and relative genetic divergence (GST) (allozymes=9.5% and microsatellites=15%) were also similar to the results obtained in previous studies of Chilean populations of brown trout. These values, when compared with those obtained in Europe, proved to be similar for HT but lower for GST. The low interpopulational genetic differentiation was in accordance with the small genetic distance observed between the populations analysed (D Nei=0.004-0.025). On the other hand, the high frequency of one of the two alternative alleles of the phylogeographic marker locus LDH-5* in the populations analysed (LDH-5*90>0.84) would indicate a European origin, in particular Atlantic as opposed to Mediterranean, for the brown trout introduced into Chile. The high levels of genetic variability suggest a mixed origin for the naturalized brown trout in Chile, which could have originated either before or during the introduction process. Nevertheless, the low level of genetic differentiation between populations could reflect the short lapse of time in evolutionary terms, during which populations introduced into Chile have been exposed to different evolutionary forces, and which has not been sufficiently long to produce greater genetic differentiation between populations.