Yurok Biologist Identifies New Lamprey Subspecies

Keith Parker, a Yurok citizen and molecular biologist for the Yurok Fisheries Department, discovered a new Pacific lamprey subspecies on the Klamath River. In this photo, he is analyzing lamprey DNA and Humboldt State University. Parker’s research was recently published in the preeminent science journal, Molecular Ecology.

Keith Parker, a Yurok citizen and molecular biologist for the Yurok Fisheries Department, discovered a new Pacific lamprey subspecies on the Klamath River. In this photo, he is analyzing lamprey DNA and Humboldt State University. Parker’s research was recently published in the preeminent science journal, Molecular Ecology. [Photo from the Yurok Tribe]

Press release from the Yurok Tribe:

In the most recent edition of the preeminent science journal, Molecular Ecology, Yurok Fisheries Department biologist Keith Parker details his groundbreaking discovery of a previously unidentified Pacific lamprey subspecies on the Klamath River.

“Using a blend of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and currently available technology, we were able to verify the existence of genetically distinct, ocean and river-maturing lamprey ecotypes,” said Parker, a Yurok citizen and Molecular/Fisheries Biologist. “It is an honor and a privilege to improve our understanding of this culturally and ecologically important fish species.”

Parker is the lead author of “Evidence for the Genetic Basis and Epistatic Interactions Underlying Ocean- and River-Maturing Ecotypes of Pacific Lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) Returning to the Klamath River, California.” Prior to the article’s publication, a team of scholars from Molecular Ecology, an internationally acclaimed periodical, put the technical paper through a rigorous peer-reviewed process.

“I would like to thank my co-authors, Dr. Andrew Kinziger, Dr. John Hess and Dr. Shawn Narum for their commitment to bettering our knowledge of the Klamath River’s imperiled Pacific lamprey populations,” Parker said. “They are some of the best fish geneticists in the world.”

The Pacific lamprey is native to rivers of the West Coast, where populations of these fish have been declining for several decades due to habitat loss, pollution and dams. The snake-shaped lamprey resembles an oceanic eel and is often referred to as such. However, Pacific lamprey are set apart by their unique mouth, a large oral sucking disk filled with sharp teeth surrounding a razor sharp tongue. To produce definitive evidence of the two ecotypes, Parker used a next-generation genetic sequencing technique, at the Columbia Intertribal Fish Commission’s Laboratory in Hagerman, Idaho, to analyze 219 lamprey DNA samples he collected over a 12-month period.

“After genotyping all of the samples, multiple gene locations jumped off the screen. It was extremely exciting to see the genetic differences in the two ecotypes. Depending on the composition of their DNA, one matures in the river and another in the ocean,” Parker explained. “We could even see exactly where their genetic configurations diverged. There are 15 genes acting in a complex interactive relationship that predict whether or not the fish will be in-river or ocean-maturing. Our analysis also identified a strong genetic basis for lamprey body size, involving eight other genes. This finding is remarkable because of the strength of the genetic associations and some these same associations have been observed hundreds of miles away on the Columbia River. I would like to thank the Columbia Intertribal Fish Commission for inviting me to use their genetic sequencing technology and lab.”

As the person responsible for this historic breakthrough, Parker was given the opportunity to name the ecotypes. In all scientific literature, the river-maturing type will now be called key’ween (the Yurok word for Pacific lamprey) and the ocean-maturing type will be referred to as tewol (the Yurok word for ocean). This is an equally unique accomplishment because it is especially uncommon for a species to be formally described in an indigenous language.

“Even though western science and traditional ecological knowledge have significantly contrasting worldviews, TEK is finally becoming recognized as an important and valid tool for use in modern science,” Parker said.

While the lamprey is invaluable to many different Tribal nations, it does not have a recreational or commercial value, which is why it is one of the least studied fish in the Pacific Northwest. There is little funding to perform the type of research that Parker is doing.

“I would like to thank the Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission, the National Science Foundation and The Robert & Patricia Switzer Foundation for funding this undertaking,” Parker said. “Having access to this nutritionally dense fish during the coldest time of the year, when other foods are scarce enabled our people to prosper for millennia. Prior to European contact, the river was full of fish year-round, which gave us the stability to become world renowned canoe builders and basket weavers. It also allowed our ancestors to develop our complex systems of governance and justice.”

There is an urgent need to better understand the lamprey, which occupies several vital ecological niches throughout its lifecycle. For example, full-grown lamprey are the California sea lion’s preferred food source.

These large marine mammals will swim through a school of salmon to get to one eel. Additionally, the large pinnipeds can swallow the calorie-dense lamprey whole without expending much energy. Juvenile lamprey are a vital food source native birds and other fish. These anadromous fish also facilitate the transport of marine nutrients from the ocean to the forests.
“When lamprey are removed from this interconnected system, every other living species suffers, including humans. If anything, I hope my research illuminates the need for additional studies on this essential species,” Parker concluded.

*All of the eels used in the study were donated to elders or eaten by local people.

Parker_et_al-2019-Molecular_Ecology (1) Facebooktwitterpinterestmail

Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules

Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

19 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
b.
Guest
b.
4 years ago

Awesome. Thanks for including the original article. I was able to read it because of this choice.
Thanks to the researchers for linking Traditional Ecological Knowledge with their other forms of science and research.
I still haven’t eaten one myself.

Jeffersonian
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  b.

I have known there are two kinds of lampreys for years. Have seen them in freshwater creek.

Jaekelopterus
Guest
Jaekelopterus
4 years ago
Reply to  Jeffersonian

One of those might be a distinct species! You might could still name it!

SmallFry
Guest
SmallFry
4 years ago

Wow, that’s pretty cool! I didn’t know about the razor sharp tounge and teeth.. I know they are interconnected to the ecosystem in an amazing way too. I would like to know more about that as well! .. Excellent!

Central HumCo
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  SmallFry

~from what i can remember reading about lampreys – they are blind for the first five years, can change gender, were a delicacy of kings and queens, and they don’t do salt water. So basically, the Eel River should be named the Lamprey River.

SmallFry
Guest
SmallFry
4 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

key’ween (the Yurok word for Pacific lamprey) and the ocean-maturing type will
be referred to as tewol (the Yurok word for ocean)…

I will no longer refer to them as lamprey, I will call them Key’ween.. The eel river should probably be renamed Key’ween.. I think that might be cool too!
Blind and change gender, wow. That is pretty cool! I kinda skimmed the article and then went back for more details, and That is very interesting info about thier roles in the ecosystem.. Unagi is my favorite sushi.. I wounder if it’s Simular? I probably wouldn’t eat one unless it was offered, me personally. I have actually never seen one, but I would like too!

In my 1911 I trust
Guest
In my 1911 I trust
4 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

Its named the Eel River because of how it snakes around on itself throughout its watershed, not because of eels or lampreys.

Richard Finch
Guest
Richard Finch
4 years ago

Some impressive work by Mr. Parker et al. I notice in the reprint that he is associated with HSU. One minor quibble: “western science”? What other kind is there? Science is science.

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Richard Finch

Observation is a basic facet of all science. http://livingknowledge.anu.edu.au/html/educators/02_questions.htm The different methods and uses are what makes the differentiation in terms. It’s sort like talking about natural observation versus staged experiment. Both are part of science but understanding the different uses is meaningful enough to name.

North west
Guest
North west
4 years ago

If you didn’t grow up eating eels you probably never will like them. Great story and super job identifying the differences in our critters

In my 1911 I trust
Guest
In my 1911 I trust
4 years ago
Reply to  North west

I have been given jars of smoked eels (lampreys) by the Yurok a few times over the years. My understanding is that although they’ll give people who aren’t from the tribe salmon, you have to be pretty darn lucky for any of them to give you a jar of smoked eel. It is very oily and incredibly flavorful. Some of the best smoked fish I’ve ever had anywhere. And my pitbull loves the skins, makes her coat soft and shiny. Definitely looking forward to hopefully being given another jar this year.

tax payer
Guest
tax payer
4 years ago

this is a racist title

E. Jean Carroll
Guest
E. Jean Carroll
4 years ago
Reply to  tax payer

You are the same racist person who labels racial minorities as “colored people” in your posts, but YOU have the nerve to claim the use of the word Yurok in a headline is racist? Seriously?!? No, actually not. I promise to never take you seriously again “tax payer”, since that is clearly what you’re going for. So don’t complain when I make fun of your lame posts in this blog’s comments section. Because you clearly have it coming.

In my 1911 I trust
Guest
In my 1911 I trust
4 years ago

To troll a troll or pay the troll toll maybe better not to pay the toll atol

E. Jean Carroll
Guest
E. Jean Carroll
4 years ago

Trump trolls are just helping to bring about Trump’s political downfall.

It's not all about you.
Guest
It's not all about you.
4 years ago

Nah. That would only happen if his opponents do not sound worse than any of their allegations against him.

It's not all about you.
Guest
It's not all about you.
4 years ago

Not taking it seriously was probably the point. Although it wasn’t perfectly clear, it looks to be irony about humorless mono maniacal (edits) who look to be desperately offended over anything that pokes fun at themselves.

E. Jean Carroll
Guest
E. Jean Carroll
4 years ago

You think it’s “funny” what the Yuroks and other native peoples have suffered at the bloody hands of White racist genocidal maniacs? You find all of that racism to be humorous, do you? I hope you’re not voting next year, because if you are it will clearly be for that racist rapist traitor Trump.

It's not all about you.
Guest
It's not all about you.
4 years ago

Only completely irrational thinking could not see that it was humor about the leftist name calling mafia that was the joke and had nothing to do with the Yurok. It is the humorless virtue signalling who are the butt of the joke but they obviously don’t get it. Their response is like the 13th century Inquisition that found heretics everywhere they looked- and demanded that they all be burned at the stake. When everything except slavish agreement to dogma generates such hateful accusation, truly the New Left Inquistion is in full cry. So wrong, so mean and so loud. 150 years ago they are the rigid sort who would have perpetuated horrors against native Americans as they have no understanding of tolerance. They are the worst of humanity, not the people they cry out about. In other words they make up crap because they think it clever.