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.
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