Genetic differentiation among sea trout, Salmo trutta L., populations from western Norway

Summary Samples of sea trout, Salmo trutta L., were collected by electrofishing in eight rivers of western Norway. The samples consisted mainly of presmolt, but also contained some spawners. Muscle, eye and liver tissue were sampled and analysed for allozyme polymorphism by standard starch gel electrophoresis. Nine polymorphic loci were found. The genotype as well as the allele distributions was significantly different in all but six pair‐wise comparisons, showing the high degree of population differentiation in this anadromous species. Even some nearby rivers displayed very different allele frequencies. The correlation between genetic and geographic distances was nearly significant.