Identification of Brown Trout, Salmo trutta, of Mardgh River in Liqvan River (Iran), Using Microsatellite Loci

In this study brown trout Salmo trutta populations in Mardagh and Liqvan Rivers from the West and East Azerbaijan provinces (Iran) were studied using 12 microsatellite loci. In total 52 fish from the mentioned populations and 45 fish from Babolrood and Haraz Rivers were analyzed. According to the analysis of the private alleles, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium test and genetic differentiation between the populations (Fst=0.04) and based on other reports, it can be concluded that during the years 2004-2007, there should be at least a case of brown trout transfer from Mardagh to Liqvan River. In both the Liqvan and Mardagh Rivers private alleles specific to each river were observed, indicating that indigenous brown trout were existent in Liqvan River prior to fish transfer.