Genetic divergence among and within Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) populations inhabiting landlocked and sea-accessible sites in Labrador, Canada

Anadromous, resident, and landlocked Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) differentially experience drift and gene flow, making them ideal for studying incipient divergence. We investigated genetic divergence within and among char occupying landlocked and sea-accessible sites in Labrador, Canada, using 11 microsatellites. Unlike anadromous char, landlocked char were highly genetically differentiated. Genetic subgroups were detected within landlocked and sea-accessible sites. Within Ramah Lake (a sea-accessible site containing two subgroups), one subgroup matured at a small size, and both subgroups had equal proportions of males to females. These findings refute residency as a sneaker male tactic and instead suggest the presence of reproductively isolated resident and anadromous char. Subgroups demonstrated equal frequencies of Atlantic and Arctic lineage mtDNA haplotypes, suggesting their genetic differences were not due to allopatry during the last glacial maximum. Our results are therefore consistent with the sympatric genetic divergence of resident and anadromous Arctic char morphs.