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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 2016)
10 S moke S ignals MARCH 1, 2016 DNA shows that salmon hatcheries cause substantial, rapid genetic changes By David Stauth Oregon State University science writer CORVALLIS – A new study on steelhead trout in Oregon offers ge- netic evidence that wild and hatch- ery ish are different at the DNA level, and that they can become different with surprising speed. The research, published Feb. 17 in Nature Communications, found that after one generation of hatch- ery culture, the offspring of wild ish and irst-generation hatchery ish differed in the activity of more than 700 genes. A single generation of adaptation to the hatchery resulted in observ- able changes at the DNA level that were passed on to offspring, scien- tists reported. The research was conducted at Oregon State University in collabo- ration with the Oregon Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. Scientists say the indings essentially close the case on whether wild and hatch- ery ish can be genetically different. Differences in survival and repro- ductive success between hatchery and wild fish have long offered evidence of rapid adaptation to the hatchery environment. This new DNA evidence directly measured the activity of all genes in the off- spring of hatchery and wild ish. It conclusively demonstrates that the genetic differences between hatch- ery and wild ish are large in scale and fully heritable. “A ish hatchery is a very artiicial environment that causes strong natural selection pressures,” said Michael Blouin, a professor of inte- grative biology in the Oregon State University College of Science. “A concrete box with 50,000 other ish all crowded together and fed pellet food is clearly a lot different than an open stream.” It’s not clear exactly what traits are being selected for, but the study was able to identify some genetic changes that may explain how the fish are responding to the novel environment in the hatchery. “We observed that a large number of genes were involved in pathways related to wound healing, immu- nity and metabolism, and this is consistent with the idea that the earliest stages of domestication may involve adapting to highly crowded conditions,” said Mark Christie, lead author of the study. Aside from crowding, which is common in the hatchery, injuries also happen more often and disease can be more prevalent. The genetic changes are substan- tial and rapid, the study found. It’s literally a process of evolution at work, but in this case it does not take multiple generations or long periods of time. “We expected hatcheries to have a genetic impact,” Blouin said. “How- ever, the large amount of change we observed at the DNA level was really amazing. This was a surpris- ing result.” With the question put to rest of whether hatchery ish are different, Blouin said, it may now be possible to determine exactly how they are different and work to address that problem. When the genetic changes that occur in a hatchery environment are better understood, it could be pos- sible to change the way ish are raised in order to produce hatchery ish that are more like wild ish. This research is a irst step in that direction. The work was performed using steelhead trout from the Hood River and was supported by the Bonneville Power Administration and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Saluting success Photos by Michelle Alaimo Naomi Haller shakes hands with Mercedes Reeves, Tribal curriculum/ academic specialist, while being honored for having a 95 percent or higher attendance record for the irst semester of the 2015-16 school year during the irst K-12 Native Student Success Night held at the Tribal Community Center on Wednesday, Feb. 17. About 120 Willamina and Sheridan elementary, middle and high school students received awards for having cumulative GPAs of 3.5 to 4.0 or 3.0 to 3.4 and attendance of 95 percent or higher for the irst semester. Also two students from each grade category were acknowledged for their leadership and/or signiicant improvements with their academics. The students received certiicates and gift cards. Kady Smith receives her certiicate for 95 percent or higher attendance from Tribal Youth Education Program Manager Tim Barry. Groups form Helping Hands The Clothes Closet, iskam mfkhmfk haws and A Cause For Paws have started an ad hoc group called Grand Ronde Helping Hands and are inviting community members to join the effort of support- ing local families. “The goal is to bring those of us together who are supporting families in Grand Ronde to share the services and resources we provide and create a resource guide we can all use,” said Food Bank Coordinator Francene Ambrose. The next meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 8, at the Food Bank, 9675 Grand Ronde Road. “If you provide any type of services to families in our community, please consider attending,” Ambrose said. “We are looking for meal site calendars, food box sites, clothes closets, showers and laundry services. We are asking churches, church groups, departments and support groups to share with us.” In addition, a collection day will be held at the Food Bank from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 12. Donations of children’s birthday kit items, school supplies and pet items are being sought. If you are interested in joining the effort, contact Ambrose at 503-879-3663 or at fambrose@marionpolkfoodshare.org. Ad created by George Valdez
