P-38 Genetic variability and population structure of striped bass along the US eastern seaboard

Monday, September 13, 2010
Hall B (Convention Center)
Jens Carlsson , Department of Zoology, Ecology and Plant Science, University College, Cork, Ireland
David T. Gauthier , Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VT
Audemard Corinne , Virginia Institure of Marine Science, The College of William and Mary
Tanya Darden , Marine Resources Research Institute, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
Mike Denson , Marine Resources Research Institute, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
Kimberly S. Reece , Virginia Institure of Marine Science, The College of William and Mary
Striped bass, Morone saxatilis, is a commercially and recreationally important finfish species along the US Atlantic coast.  A variety of genetic studies using various genotyping techniques have been employed to examine genetic population structure in this species. However results have often been equivocal and geographic and temporal coverage has often been limited.  Recent advancement in microsatellite marker development for striped bass has been rapid, and over 400 loci are currently available for this species.  In this study, we undertake a comprehensive examination of striped bass population structure along the Eastern seaboard, ranging from Hudson River, NY, to South Carolina.  We include 14 microsatellite markers for genotyping young-of-year striped bass from these sites (n=50/site/yr), and include multiple geographically separated locations within Hudson River (n=2) and Chesapeake Bay (n=5).  Notably, we include two years of data to examine temporal variability in any detected genetic population structure. We anticipate that this information will increase understanding of striped bass biology and improve management of the species by delineating management units potentially in need of individual attention.