Natural selection acts on Atlantic salmon major histocompatibility (MH) variability in the wild.

ABSTRACT: Pathogen-driven balancing selection is thought to maintain polymorphism in major histocompatibility (MH) genes. However, there have been few empirical demonstrations of selection acting on MH loci in natural populations. To determine whether natural selection on MH genes has fitness consequences for wild Atlantic salmon in natural conditions, we compared observed genotype frequencies of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) surviving in a river six months after their introduction as eggs with frequencies expected from parental crosses. We found significant differences between expected and observed genotype frequencies at the MH class II alpha locus, but not at a MH class I-linked microsatellite or at seven non-MH-linked microsatellite loci. We therefore conclude that selection at the MH class II a

SUBMITTER: de Eyto E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2093966 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature