Genetic Health and Management of Brook Trout Populations

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to the genetic health and management of brook trout populations.

Trial Population

A population being evaluated for its suitability in natural settings.

Hatchery Bred Brook Trout

Trout bred in controlled environments to supplement wild populations.

Population Health

Assessment of the genetic diversity and reproductive success within a population.

Inbreeding Effects

Genetic consequences resulting from mating between closely related individuals.

Microsatellite Loci

Short, repetitive DNA sequences used for genetic analysis and diversity assessment.

Gene Characterization

The process of identifying and categorizing genes within a population.

Hybridization

The process in which individuals from different genetic backgrounds breed.

Electrofishing

A method for capturing fish using electric currents to temporarily immobilize them.

Dorsal Muscle

The muscle located along the back of fish, often harvested for genetic testing.

Genotyping

The process of determining the genetic constitution of an individual.

Family Structure

The genetic relationships among individuals in a population.

Freddie Weinberg Application

A statistical tool for assessing genotypes within populations.

Effective Population Size

An estimate of the number of individuals contributing genetically to the next generation.

Hierarchical Analysis of Molecular Variants

A method to assess genetic diversity relative to geographical ranges.

HUC (Hydrologic Unit Code)

A unique identifier for watersheds in the United States.

Hatchery Regression

The assessment of the genetic impact of hatchery-bred fish on wild populations.

Introgression

The incorporation of genes from one population into another through hybridization.

Discriminant Analysis

A statistical technique used to classify data into distinct categories.

Bayesian Clustering

A probabilistic method for grouping individuals based on genetic similarities.

Genetic Rescue Projects

Conservation efforts aimed at increasing genetic diversity in small populations.

Genetic Drift

Random changes in allele frequencies within a population.

Effective Population Size (Ne)

The size of an ideal population that would show the same amount of genetic drift as the actual population.

Polymorphic Loci

Locations in the genome where two or more alleles are present.

Genotypic Variation

Differences in the genetic makeup among individuals.

Allele Richness

The measure of the number of different alleles present in a population.

Linkage Disequilibrium

The non-random association of alleles at different loci.

Adaptive Potential

The ability of a population to adapt to changing environmental conditions.

Connectivity

The ease with which individuals in different populations can interact or breed.

Reintroduction

The process of returning a species to its natural habitat after local extinction.

Genetic Drift Impact

The effect of random allele frequency changes, especially in small populations.

Inbreeding Depression

Reduced biological fitness due to inbreeding.

Heterozygosity

The presence of different alleles at a genetic locus.

Biomass Increase

An increase in the total mass of living organisms in a population.

Genetic Monitoring

The process of tracking genetic diversity over time.

Population Decline Factors

Reasons leading to a decrease in population size.

Demographic Stochasticity

Random fluctuations in population sizes due to demographic events.

Habitat Restoration

Efforts to recover or improve the natural environment.

Local Adaptation

The process where populations evolve specific traits that enhance their survival in particular habitats.

Species-Specific Responses

Various reactions and adaptations of different species to environmental pressures.

Self-Sustaining Population

A population that can maintain itself without external reinforcement.

Management Strategies

Approaches applied to ensure the health and sustainability of wildlife populations.

Genetic Baseline Data

Reference genetic information used to assess future population health.