Spangler, G. R., C. Stepien, Ongoing.  Geographic Variation and Colonization Patterns of Ruffe, Gymnocephalus cernuus, in the Great Lakes: Otolith Signatures and DNA Sequence Divergence,  University of Minnesota and Case Western Reserve University,  Minnesota Sea Grant College Program

Geographic Variation and Colonization Patterns of Ruffe, Gymnocephalus cernuus, in the Great Lakes: Otolith Signatures and DNA Sequence Divergence

Objectives/Abstract:
To determine the European origins of ruffe, Gymnocephalus cernuus, within the Great Lakes, and its colonization patterns within the streams and estuaries of Lake Superior.

Methodology: Pattern recognition technology will be applied to the first year growth increments in otoliths from young-of-the-year and adult ruffe sampled in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Duluth-Superior estuary, selected streams along the south shore of Lake Superior and future colonization sites in the Great Lakes. These results will be compared with genetic stock identification from highly variable regions of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and nuclear DNA (nDNA) sequences in order to identify the foci of breeding populations in the lakes that are the source(s) of colonizing individuals involved in the current expansion of the range of this exotic species. Trans-Atlantic sources of founding populations will be determined and the likelihood of multiple inoculations in North America will be ascertained.

Contact: G. Spangler, Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife, 200 Hodson Hall, Univ. Minnesota, St. Paul, 55108 (612) 624-9229 or Home Page or cas20@po.CWRU.Edu
Keywords: Basic_biology, Colonization, Ongoing_project, Ruffe
Product Type: Basic_biology, Research
User Type: Resource_management