GENE DIFFERENTIATION IN PACIFIC SALMON (ONCORHYNCHUS SP) - FACTS AND MODELS WITH REFERENCE TO PINK SALMON (ONCORHYNCHUS-GORBUSCHA)

Analyzing population genetic data usually involves examining relationships among populations followed by analysis of the distribution of genetic variability. Genetic relationships are often depicted with multidimensional scaling or trees constructed from genetic distances; genetic variation within and among populations is partitioned using gene diversity measures such as F-ST or G(ST). Genetic distances or gene diversity are often used to estimate influences of gene drift, migration, and/or selection on observed gene differentiation. We used allozyme data for pink salmon populations to examine the. theoretical models available for estimating magnitudes of these factors in Pacific salmon populations. The models included (1) mutation and gene drift; (2) mutation and migration; (3) migration and gene drift; and (4) gene drift, migration, and selection. These models suggest that gene drift and migration are probably important at the lowest levels of population hierarchy, but even very small forces such as weak heterogeneous selection and low migration levels may be important at higher levels. The accuracy of some estimates should be questioned because for many situations appropriate models are either not yet available or are not sufficiently refined. Also, the dynamic genetic structure of salmon populations makes it unlikely that the steady state assumed for many theoretical models has obtained.