Genetic characterization of Amur sturgeon Acipenser schrenckii and its hybrid caught around Hokkaido.

Genetic characterization was performed in five individuals of wild Amur sturgeon Acipenser schrenckii, and/or its presumed hybrid caught around Hokkaido, using a mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) marker and two markers of nuclear DNA (nDNA). Genetic analyses indicated that two of the five fish had the mtDNA haplotype of Kaluga, Huso dauricus, whereas the nDNA markers indicated signs for both A. schrenckii and H. dauricus genotypes, referring to a hybrid origin. The other three fish were plausibly pure A. schrenckii. The results indicated the importance of combined usage of mtDNA and nDNA markers for correct species identification in sturgeon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]