Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Percid Fishes

Percid fishes, including perch (Perca spp.) and pikeperch (Sander spp.), are widely distributed across freshwater and brackish systems in Europe, Asia and North America. Genetic diversity within and among populations underpins adaptive potential for temperature tolerance, salinity gradients and ecological interactions. Population structure analyses have revealed patterns of isolation by distance, habitat fragmentation and life-history divergence between freshwater-resident and anadromous forms. Tools ranging from microsatellites and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing have been deployed to characterise allelic richness, heterozygosity and signals of selection. Such insights inform conservation of native stocks, management of stocking programmes and the design of resilient broodstocks for aquaculture. This research has broad implications for maintaining ecosystem services, optimising fisheries yields and safeguarding evolutionary resilience under climate change.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have compared single-trait and multi-trait approaches to identify wild perch populations most suited for domestication. The single-trait method, focusing on one phenotypic characteristic at a time, was shown to overlook key genetic divergences and to highlight different candidate populations depending on the trait. In contrast, an integrative multi-trait framework, though more time-consuming and costly, delivered consistent evidence for the population with the highest aquaculture potential. These findings underscore the need to balance efficiency with comprehensive genetic and phenotypic assessment when selecting broodstock for sustainable perch farming.

Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Percid Fishes publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in genetic diversity and population structure of percid fishes across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Genetic diversity: Variation in genetic composition among individuals or populations of a species.

Population structure: The distribution of genetic variation within and between populations, often shaped by gene flow, drift and selection.

Microsatellite marker: Short, tandemly repeated DNA sequences used to assess genetic variation.

Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP): A single base-pair variation in the genome serving as a high-resolution marker for genetic studies.

Heterozygosity: The presence of different alleles at a genetic locus, reflecting individual or population-level genetic variation.

References

1. Comparison of single- and multi-trait approaches to identify best wild candidates for aquaculture shows that the simple way fails. Scientific Reports (2020).
2. Whole‐genome sequencing illuminates multifaceted targets of selection to humic substances in Eurasian perch. Molecular Ecology (2022).
3. Assessing Genetic Variation in Wild and Domesticated Pikeperch Populations: Implications for Conservation and Fish Farming. Animals (2022).
4. Yellow perch genetic structure and habitat use among connected habitats in eastern Lake Michigan. Ecology and Evolution (2019).