The fish genetics laboratory (FiskGen) perform genetic analyses of fish and crayfish as part of environmental monitoring and research projects. Most studies carried at FiskGen focus on identifying the genetic population structure of resource species and endangered species. The laboratory is situated at the Institute of Freshwater Research, Drottningholm.
Most fish and shellfish species are divided into genetically distinct populations (local stocks). Knowledge of species’ genetic structure is important both for long-term sustainable fish management and for preserving genetic diversity in our fish fauna.
We also study genetic and ecological effects of fish stocking, and investigate how fishing may affect important traits. We further monitor the genetic status of endangered species and cultivated stocks, together with our clients and in collaboration with our ageing laboratories.
At FiskGen, we use so-called microsatellites as genetic markers. We analyze salmon, trout, pikeperch, catfish (wels), whitefish, vendace, crayfish and flounder. There is often access to genetic reference data sets from previous studies, which provides increased opportunities to study various questions.
At FiskGen, we perform genetic analyzes on behalf of authorities like the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management, county administrative boards and municipalities, fisheries conservation area associations, fish farms and others. Feel free to contact us regarding your questions where a genetic analysis may be relevant, and for price information!
At FiskGen, noble crayfish from different populations are DNA-analyzed. The results form a basis for the species’ management. The noble crayfish is classified as critically endangered according to the Swedish Red List 2020 (SLU, ArtDatabanken).
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FiskGen's laboratory analyses are based on a small piece of tissue (e.g. fin-clips or scales) that are treated so that the genetic material (DNA) becomes available for further analysis without being broken down.
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FiskGen's "genetic analyzer" analyses fragment-lengths of 96 individual samples at a time. The raw results consist of combinations for so-called alleles (variants of “genes”) carried by each studied individual.
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Whitlock R, Mäntyniemi S, Palm S, Koljonen M-L, Dannewitz J, Östergren J (2018). Integrating genetic analysis of mixed populations with a spatially explicit population dynamics model. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 9, 1017-1035.
Johan Dannewitz, Stefan Palm, Linda Söderberg och Johan Östergren
Stefan Palm, Researcher
Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Freshwater Research, SLU
stefan.palm@slu.se, +46 10 478 42 49
Linda Söderberg, Laboratory Engineer
Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Freshwater Research, SLU
linda.soderberg@slu.se, +46 10 478 42 68