Presenter: Tanner Van Orden
Authors: Tanner Van Orden
Faculty Advisor: Paul Evans
Institution: Brigham Young University
The chars (Pisces: Salmonidae: Salvelinus) have a circumpolar distribution in the Northern Hemisphere. The evolutionary history, morphology, range, and taxonomy of the genus Salvelinus has remained unclear, as the species occupy similar niches and exhibit a large range of morphologies. Until recently bull trout and Dolly Varden were considered to be just one species. Analysis of mtDNA from 31 Salvelinus species showed distinct lineages from North America, the Arctic, the Bering Sea, and the Sea of Japan. Arctic char(S. alpinus)collected in Scandinavia were most closely related to Dolly Varden(S. malma)collected in British Columbia, while bull trout(S. confluentus)collected from the Columbia River basin were most closely related to Arctic char collected in Northern Canada. We are developing gene-based (nuclear and mitochondrial) markers which can be used to establish the molecular phylogenetic relationships in Salvelinus. Ultimately, these markers will resolve issues with current evolutionary relationships within the genus. We will also produce a more robust set of nuclear and mitochondrial markers that can aid future Salvelinus research at the population level.