AEI

Aquaculture Environment Interactions

AEI is a gold Open Access journal and a multidisciplinary forum for primary research studies on the environmental sustainability of aquaculture.

Online: ISSN 1869-7534

Print: ISSN 1869-215X

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/aei

Impact Factor2.5 (JCR 2025 release)

Article Acceptance Rate25% (2024)

Average Time in Review175 days (2024)

Total Annual Downloads160.212 (2025)

Volume contents
Aquacult Environ Interact 10:401-411 (2018)

Migration effort and wild population size influence the prevalence of hybridization between escaped farmed and wild Atlantic salmon

ABSTRACT: Hybridization of escaped farmed Atlantic salmon Salmo salar with wild populations occurs throughout their native range and can threaten wild population stability and persistence. The extent of hybridization is often population-specific and can drive changes in phenotype and genotype. Current understanding of the forces that contribute to the spatial distribution of hybridization is insufficient despite its potential to inform conservation and management efforts. Using a panel of 95 single nucleotide polymorphisms previously validated for identifying parr of farmed, wild, or hybrid descent, we present a novel exploration of inter- and intra-river distribution of hybrids from 33 locations across 9 rivers in southern Newfoundland, Canada. The proportion of hybrids varied significantly across (p < 0.001) and within rivers (p < 0.05 in 4 rivers). Binomial mixed models and logistic regression showed increased proportions of hybrid and feral offspring within smaller rivers (p < 0.0001). Within-river distribution of hybrid parr was strongly associated with the migration effort required to reach spawning sites; the hybrid proportion decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with increased elevation, geographic distance and the presence of obstructions. These observations support previous hypotheses that the distribution of escaped farmed Atlantic salmon can be restricted by migratory challenges, which result in the reduction of hybrid individuals in upstream spawning sites relative to downstream locations. Our research demonstrates that levels of hybridization vary spatially and are associated with landscape features. We suggest that consideration of spatial variation in levels of hybridization will be essential for the evaluation of impacts that escaped farmed salmon impose on wild Atlantic salmon populations.

KEYWORDS

Emma V. A. Sylvester (Corresponding Author)

  • Science Branch, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 80 East White Hills Road, St. John’s, NL A1C 5X1, Canada
emmasylvester7@gmail.com

Brendan F. Wringe (Co-author)

  • Science Branch, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4A2, Canada

Steven J. Duffy (Co-author)

  • Science Branch, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 80 East White Hills Road, St. John’s, NL A1C 5X1, Canada

Lorraine C. Hamilton (Co-author)

  • Aquatic Biotechnology Laboratory, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4A2, Canada

Ian A. Fleming (Co-author)

  • Memorial University of Newfoundland, Department of Ocean Sciences, St. John’s, NL A1C 5S7, Canada

Ian R. Bradbury (Co-author)

  • Science Branch, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 80 East White Hills Road, St. John’s, NL A1C 5X1, Canada