Genetic differentiation of balkhash perch Perca schrenki kessler, 1874 from lake balkhash and alakol lake system of kazakhstan

The genetic differentiation of two populations of Balkhash perch Perca schrenki Kessler, 1874 was examined. The study included (1) the population of Lake Balkhash and the Ili River delta, where this species is protected and it is prohibited to catch them, and (2) the population of Alakol Lake system, where it is the main commercial species and forms two morphotypes, pelagic and coastal. Analysis of the mitochondrial DNA COI gene and six microsatellite loci revealed genetic differentiation at the population level, while no statistically significant differences were found at the morphotype level. The results of this study make it possible with high probability to determine the belonging of caught fish to either the commercial (Alakol Lake system) or protected (Lake Balkhash) population.