Data from: Genetic differentiation of Alaska Chinook salmon: the missing link for migratory studies

Most information about Chinook salmon genetic diversity and life history
originates from studies from the west coast USA, western Canada, and
Southeast Alaska; less is known about Chinook salmon from western and
southcentral Alaska drainages. Populations in this large area are
genetically distinct from populations to the south and represent an
evolutionary legacy of unique genetic, phenotypic, and life history
diversity. More genetic information is necessary to advance mixed stock
analysis applications for studies involving these populations. We
assembled a comprehensive, open-access baseline of 45 single nucleotide
polymorphisms (SNPs) from 172 populations ranging from Russia to
California. We compare SNP data from representative populations throughout
the range with particular emphasis on western and southcentral Alaska. We
grouped populations into major lineages based upon genetic and geographic
characteristics, evaluated the resolution for identifying the composition
of admixtures, and performed mixed stock analysis on Chinook salmon caught
incidentally in the walleye pollock fishery in the Bering Sea. SNP data
reveal complex genetic structure within Alaska and can be used in
applications to address not only regional issues, but also migration
pathways, bycatch studies on the high seas, and potential changes in the
range of the species in response to climate change.