Problems with Samples of Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) Ammocoetes Used in Stock Identification Studies

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Abstract
Allelic variation in sea lamprey (P. marinus) ammocoetes from the Lake Huron, Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, Canada [USA] drainage basins was studied by starch gel electrophoresis. Previously untried enzyme systems were examined in sea lamprey ammocoetes. No new polymorphic enzyme systems were found. The allelic frequencies of ammocoete samples frequently failed to conform to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium values. Allelic frequency variation observed among samples from the same drainage was larger than the variation observed among drainages. The results of this study and field observations suggest that the effective size of spawning groups that contribute progeny to samples is often small. These factors make ammocoete samples undesirable for use in stock identification studies.