Genetic Diversity of Sockeye Salmon

An Individual-Based, Quantitative Genetic Model for Investigating Local Adaptation and Population Viability in Connected Populations of Sockeye Salmon

Washington Sea Grant’s NOAA Fisheries Fellow studies the use of indices to improve stock assessment methods for hard to study species like rockfish.


Jocelyn Lin, University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences

Project Leader

Lorenz Hauser, University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences

Co-Project Leader

Jeff Hard, NOAA Fisheries, Northwest Fisheries Science Center


To investigate the effects of dispersal on phenotypic variation and population productivity, a Sea Grant-NOAA Fisheries Fellow modeled evolution and population dynamics in connected sockeye salmon populations. The model was stochastic, individual-based, and used quantitative genetics to predict evolution.

Research Updates


Pacific salmon are an ecologically and economically important group of species. Assessing levels of genetic and phenotypic variation among groups of salmon helps to identify species units that should be managed independently. However, genetic parameters are rarely linked to both phenotypic variation and population dynamics. Furthermore, the ecological and evolutionary effects of connectivity between populations are not always considered.


Results indicated that high gene flow between populations can cause rapid homogenization of phenotypes (similarity in fish characteristics), and that very strong stabilizing selection is required to constrain these homogenizing effects. Preliminary simulations also suggest that homogenization has limited effects on population productivity. Results will be crucial for understanding asynchronous population fluctuations in sockeye salmon and will help to set conservation and management priorities in wild salmon fisheries.