Conservation genetics of Lahontan tui chubs in Walker Lake, Nevada

Authors: Amanda J. Finger, Bernie May

Year: 2010 (xlii)

Abstract

Lahontan tui chubs in Walker Lake have experienced declines in recruitment as total dissolved salts (TDS) have increased over the last century. Here we investigate how genetically distinct the population in Walker Lake is relative to populations throughout the Walker, Carson and Truckee river basins. Using nine microsatellite markers, we found that the population of tui chubs in Walker Lake is genetically distinct and has robust genetic diversity. In addition we found that Walker Lake and Pyramid Lake populations are closely related despite being in different watersheds. This suggests that, since the recession of Lake Lahontan, Walker Lake and Pyramid Lake have supported large tui chub populations in the past while smaller populations have undergone drift which has reduced genetic diversity.