Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) are currently a species of special concern in Connecticut. Restocking efforts have been put into place, but the maintenance of genetic diversity is important. For this study, samples from five Southern New England sites and a Lake Michigan site were collected. We used microsatellites, as genetic markers, to assess the genetic differences among alewife populations. Primers developed for American shad (Alosa sapidissima), a closely related species, were used to amplify alewife DNA because primers have not been developed specifically to amplify alewife DNA. The results show that five of the six primers, developed for amplifying American shad DNA, amplify alewife DNA from roaring Brook in Connecticut and Lake Michigan. The data suggests genetic diversity between Alewife from roaring Brook and Lake Michigan does exist.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Ferreira, Elisa Chaves.

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 04D055M

Advisor

• Rulfs, Jill
• Tyler, Jeffrey A.

Year

• 2004

Date created

• 2004-01-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biology & Biotechnology

Rights statement

• In Copyright