Probably the most ubiquitous biochemical method used today for examining the genetics of individuals, populations, or phylogenetic relationships between taxa is electrophoresis. This book has been created to offer a viewpoint regarding current electrophoretic separation methodologies of macromolecules and their major applications to fisheries management. The chapters in this book have been selected and organized into three sections to create a carefully blended mixture of methodologies and applications designed to educate the novice, as well as stimulate interest in professional researchers currently using electrophoresis for their work. The first section includes chapters that discuss the principles that explain the genetic basis of multiple molecular forms of proteins, the theory and practice of DNA analyses, and the methodology of electrophoretic separation of these macromolecules; starch gel electrophoresis as the predominant electrophoretic tool for fisheries genetics; and protein isoelectric focusing and DNA analysis. The second section describes a variety of applications for electrophoretic techniques. The third section presents a discussion and results of experiments conducted by Dennis Powers and his associates regarding the physiological significance of multiple forms of enzymes using the fish Fundulus heteroclitus as a model system. The book features a catalog of nearly 100 enzyme staining recipes and covers new areas in electrophoretic work, such as DNA fingerprinting, genetic tags, mitochondrial DNA methodologies, and genomic manipulation of fish stocks. This book will provide a useful reference resource for fisheries biologists at federal, state, and local levels; fisheries researchers at universities; and students pursuing degrees involving research in fish genetics.

The basic principle of all molecular genetic methods is to employ inherited, discrete and stable markers to identify genotypes that characterize individuals, populations or species. Such genetic data can provide information ori the levels and distribution of genetic variability in relation to mating patterns, life history, population size, migration and environment. Although molecular tools have long been employed to address various questions in fisheries biology and management, their contributions to the field are sometimes unclear, and often controversial. Much of the initial impetus for the deployment of molecular markers arose from the desire to assess fish stock structure based on various interpretations of the stock concept. Although such studies have met with varying success, they continue to provide an impetus for the development of increasingly sensitive population discriminators, yielding information that can be valuable for both sustainable exploitation and the conservation of fish populations. In the last major synthesis of the subject, Ryman and Utter (1987) summarized progress and applications, though this was prior to the wide-scale adoption of DNA methodology. New sources of genetic markers and protocols are now available, in particular those that exploit the widely distributed and highly variable repeat sequences of DNA, and the amplification technique of the polymerase chain reaction.

Methods enabling the direct study of genetic variation in natural populations have improved considerably. The new edition explores these updated techniques in DNA analysis and provides a revised and refined laboratory guide to investigating variation in DNA molecules.

Still widely used as gene markers, isozymes detected by zymogram techniques have proven valuable in a range of other biological applications over the last few years. Along with these new applications, many new techniques have also emerged. Yet more than eight years since the Handbook of Detection of Enzymes on Electrophoretic Gels was first publish

Our current knowledge of marine organisms and the factors affecting their ecology, distribution and evolution has been revolutionised by the use, in the last 20 years, of molecular population genetics tools. This book is the result of a meeting of world-leading experts, in Rio de Janeiro, where the state of the art of this field was reviewed. Topics covered include the molecular analysis of bio-invasions, the recent developments in marine biotechnology, the factors affecting levels of genetic variation and population structure in marine organisms and their application to conservation biology, fisheries and aquaculture. This is the first book dedicated to the genetic study of marine organisms. It will be very useful to biology students, scientists and anyone working or simply interested in areas such as marine biology, zoology, ecology, and population and molecular genetics.

As salmonids have been reared for more than a century in many countries, one might expect that principles are well established and provide a solid foundation for salmonid aquaculture. Indeed, some of the methods used today in salmonid rearing are nearly identical to those employed one hundred years ago. Areas of salmonid research today include nutrition, smolt and stress physiology, genetics and biotechnology.The purpose of this book is to provide a useful synthesis of the biology and culture of salmonid fishes. The important practices in salmonid culture as well as the theory behind them is described. This volume will be of interest to students, researchers, fisheries biologists and managers as well as practising aquaculturists.

Molecular techniques are proving invaluable in determining the phylogenetic status of potentially endangered species, for investigating mechanisms of speciation, and for measuring the genetic structure of populations. It is increasingly important for ecologists and evolutionary and conservation biologists to understand and use such molecular techniques, but most workers in these areas have not been trained in molecular biology. This book lays out the principles and basic techniques for the molecular tools appropriate for addressing issues in conservation, and it presents case studies showing how these tools have been used successfully in conservation biology. Examples include the genetic analysis of population structure, various uses of DNA in conservation genetics, and estimation of migration parameters from genetic data. Wildlife managers, as well as researchers in these areas, will find this a valuable book.

This is a comprehensive gathering of measurement and assessment techniques for aquatic toxicants. Covering everything from ASTM and similar standard methods to new and innovative techniques, Techniques in Aquatic Toxicology provides necessary details on sampling, testing, and analysis in both saltwater and freshwater environments. Research scientists and field and laboratory technicians will find help in testing for everything from assessing DNA damage to bioaccumulation of common toxins to assays of fish embryos and fish tissues.