Isolation by oceanic distance and spatial genetic structure in an overharvested international fishery

Nathan K. Truelove*, Stephen J. Box, Karl A. Aiken, A Blythe‐Mallett, Erik M. Boman, Catherine J. Booker, Tamsen T. Byfield, Courtney E. Cox, Martha H. Davis, Gabriel A. Delgado, Bob A. Glazer, Sarah M. Griffiths, K Kitson‐Walters, Andy S. Kough, Enríquez R Pérez, Richard F. Preziosi, Marcia E. Roy, I Segura‐García, Mona K. Webber, Allan W. Stoner

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Aim</jats:title><jats:p>A detailed understanding of spatial genetic structure (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">SGS</jats:styled-content>) and the factors driving contemporary patterns of gene flow and genetic diversity are fundamental for developing conservation and management plans for marine fisheries. We performed a detailed study of <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">SGS</jats:styled-content> and genetic diversity throughout the overharvested queen conch (<jats:italic>Lobatus gigas</jats:italic>) fishery. Caribbean countries were presented as major populations to examine transboundary patterns of population differentiation.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Location</jats:title><jats:p>Nineteen locations in the greater Caribbean from Anguilla, the Bahamas, Belize, Caribbean Netherlands, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Turks and Caicos, and the <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">USA</jats:styled-content>.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>We genotyped 643 individuals with nine microsatellites. Population genetic and multivariate analyses characterized <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">SGS</jats:styled-content>. We tested the alternate hypotheses: (1) <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">SGS</jats:styled-content> is randomly distributed in space or (2) pairwise genetic structure among sites is correlated with oceanic distance (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">IBOD</jats:styled-content>).</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>Our study found that <jats:italic>L. gigas</jats:italic> does not form a single panmictic population in the greater Caribbean. Significant levels of genetic differentiation were identified between Caribbean countries (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case"><jats:italic>F</jats:italic><jats:sub>CT</jats:sub></jats:styled-content> = 0.011; <jats:italic>p </jats:italic>= .0001), within Caribbean countries (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case"><jats:italic>F</jats:italic><jats:sub>SC</jats:sub></jats:styled-content><jats:sub> </jats:sub>= 0.003; <jats:italic>p</jats:italic> = .001), and among sites irrespective of geographic location (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case"><jats:italic>F</jats:italic><jats:sub>ST</jats:sub></jats:styled-content> = 0.013; <jats:italic>p</jats:italic> = .0001). Gene flow across the greater Caribbean was constrained by oceanic distance (<jats:italic>p </jats:italic>=<jats:italic> </jats:italic>.0009; Mantel <jats:italic>r </jats:italic>=<jats:italic> </jats:italic>.40), which acted to isolate local populations.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Main conclusions</jats:title><jats:p>Gene flow over the spatial scale of the entire Caribbean basin is constrained by oceanic distance, which may impede the natural recovery of overfished <jats:italic>L. gigas</jats:italic> populations. Our results suggest a careful blend of local and international management will be required to ensure long‐term sustainability for the species.</jats:p></jats:sec>
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1292-1300
Number of pages0
JournalDiversity and Distributions
Volume23
Issue number11
Early online date18 Sept 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2017

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