Contemporary methods were used for estimating effective population size (N e) and effective parental population size (N b) within lakes and spawning sites from genetic data.
First generation migrants (F0) were in GENECLASS v.2.0 [ 158] identified to evaluate migrants influence on genetic differentiation, using the test statistics L_home/L_max and L_home between lakes and spawning sites, respectively, to account for un-sampled populations and maximizing analyses power.
Recent protection of spawning sites has reversed this trend for mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis) [102], and may be effective for other species.
Allelic richness was compared among lakes and spawning sites based on minimum sample size for each comparison separately in FSTAT v.2.9.3.2 [ 146].
Compensation occurs when reduction in the effective number of breeders (Nb) is counterbalanced by reduced competition for mates or spawning sites when Nc is small, reducing among-spawner differences in offspring survivorship.
Indeed, there is evidence from tagging experiments on Atlantic herring in the Baltic for a high degree of homing to spawning sites, and very low levels of migration between sites at spawning time [ 37], enhancing the potential for local adaptation.
We evaluated population genetic structure among 23 contemporary walleye spawning groups (1125 individuals; Table 1, Additional file 10), adding 259 individuals and six spawning sites to the 866 individuals and 17 locations previously analyzed for nine μsat loci (Svi2, 4, 6, 7, 17, 18, 33, L6, and L7) in our laboratory [ 30, 38] (Additional file 11).
Furthermore, individual-level spatial autocorrelation analyses support previous recommendations for the preservation of a number of spawning sites spaced throughout the tributary system to conserve the high levels of genetic variation identified in salmonid species.
Capelin (Mallotus villosus) in coastal Newfoundland are known to spawn on beaches but deep-water (demersal) spawning sites in close proximity (< 4 km) have recently been documented.
