Data from: Post-glacial recolonization of the North American Arctic by Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus): genetic evidence of multiple northern refugia and hybridization between glacial lineages

Methods

We collected mtDNA sequence data from 1355 individuals from 110 sampling locations and data from nine microsatellite loci from 931 individuals from 37 locations. We assessed the phylogenetic relationships and geographical distribution of mtDNA haplotypes and conducted historical demographic analyses. We used a Bayesian clustering analysis method to detect potential hybridization between glacial lineages.

Results: Two highly divergent mtDNA lineages were identified in the Arctic region with distinct but overlapping geographic distributions: one in Beringia and the other over the entire Arctic Archipelago and coastal mainland east of Alaska. The microsatellite data also implied the existence of these two lineages. Evidence of hybridization was detected between the Arctic lineage and an Atlantic lineage in eastern North America.

Main conclusions: Our data suggested survival and recolonization from two northern glacial refugia: one in Beringia and another in a smaller refugium, perhaps in the Arctic Archipelago itself or a separate refugium within Beringia. Patterns of hybridization detected supported the presence of a secondary contact zone between glacial lineages in the eastern Canadian Arctic.

Usage notes

Salpinus_usatRawGenotypes_Moore_25June2015 Raw genotypes for nine microsatellite loci from North American Arctic char samples STRUCTURE_project_data Datafile ready for analysis in software STRUCTURE with all 931 samples of North American Arctic char included in the present study. project_data STRUCTURE_mainparams Parameter file for re-running the STRUCTURE analysis on the microsatellite data from North American Arctic char included in the present study. mainparams