Search

Uglem, I., Berg, M., Varne, R., Nilsen, R., Mork, J., and Bjørn, P. A. 2011. Discrimination of wild and farmed Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) based on morphology and scale-circuli pattern. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 1928–1936.To evaluate the spatio–temporal distribution and ecological impacts of escaped farmed Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), it is necessary that escapees can be traced in the wild. To do this, simple, reliable, and fast methods for determining the origin of cod are required. The aim of this proof-of-concept study was to evaluate whether simple analyses of scales and body morphology can distinguish between wild and farmed cod. Digital images of fish and scales from adult cod from two farms, and wild cod caught near these farms, were analysed by computer-based image analyses. By combining mean breadth of circuli and length-adjusted scale radius in a discriminant analysis, 86 and 80% of wild and farmed fish, respectively, were correctly classified. Moreover, using three simple morphometric measures representing dorsal fin size, neck curvature, and length of lower jaw, 100 and 95% of wild and farmed cod, respectively, were classified correctly. To validate these discrimination methods further, an expanded analysis of additional farmed and wild cod populations is required. The results pave the way for the development of a reliable and standardized methodology for classification of the origin of cod caught in the wild. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A total of 1455 spawning cod, sampled from a local spawning area in Trondheimsfjord (Norway) between 1985 and 2002, was screened at the microsatellite loci Gmo132 and Gmo2. Samples from 15 spawning years comprising 29 consecutive cohorts were analysed. At the Gmo132 locus, but not at Gmo2, allele frequencies varied significantly among sampling years as well as cohorts, corresponding to FST-values of 0.004 and 0.006, respectively. Both loci showed examples of significant deviations from Hardy–Weinberg expectation within sampling years as well as cohorts, manifested as deficiencies of heterozygotes. Combining the p-values from the single tests (Fisher''s method) revealed an overall significant p-value for deviation from the Hardy–Weinberg expectations at Gmo132 but not at Gmo2. Trend tests showed significant HW deficiencies at both loci for annual samples but not for cohorts. Possible reasons for the deficiencies were discussed; inter alia the existence of null alleles, or a form of pseudo Wahlund effect due to a patchy distribution of habitats for settling O-group cod in the Trondheimsfjord. It was noted that there might be a relationship between the relatively high temporal within-population variability of allele frequencies at Gmo132 and the fact that among microsatellite loci studied so far, Gmo132 is the one that usually shows the highest genetic differentiation geographically in cod. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]