Prediction of offspring fitness based on parental genetic diversity in endangered salmonid populations

Abstract

By simulating all possible offspring genotypic combinations based on pair‐wise matings in three vulnerable or endangered populations of salmonids (two Atlantic salmon Salmo salar and one Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus ), family level estimates of potential offspring genetic diversity were calculated using several commonly used genetic diversity estimators ( , and H EST ). By using this approach, the genetic variability of offspring could be predicted accurately based solely on parental genotype data. In addition, significant associations between offspring genetic variability and fitness‐related traits were observed in the two Atlantic salmon populations and these associations were consistent between fitness measures and either estimated or observed genetic diversity. This indicates that associations with offspring fitness measures can be predicted without genetic analysis of the offspring themselves.