Inter-Species Relationships Within the Genus Oncorhynchus Based on Biochemical Systematics

Abstract

The species specific muscle myogens of Salmo gairdnerii, Oncorhynchus masou, O. masou ishikawae, O. kisutch, O. tshawytscha, O. keta, O. nerka, and O. gorbuscha are compared by starch gel electrophoresis. Plasma proteins of these same species are also examined by polyacrylamide disc electrophoresis. The range of usefulness of muscle myogens in species identification, and equally significantly, their value in establishing phylogenetic relationships of closely related groups, as the genus Oncorhynchus, are discussed. The myogen patterns of O. keta and O. gorbuscha from the Asiatic and North American coasts were found to be identical, further supporting the concept of absolute species specificity of these patterns.