Genetic connectivity of the reef fish Lutjanus kasmira at the scale of the western Indian Ocean

• Published in: Canadian journal of fisheries and aquatic sciences 2012-05, Vol.69 (5), p.842-853
• Main Authors: MUTHS, D, GOUWS, G, MWALE, M, TESSIER, E, BOURJEA, J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agnatha. Pisces; Animal genetics; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Aquatic sciences; Biodiversity; Biological and medical sciences; Biological diversity; Dispersal; Exploitation and management of natural biological resources (hunting, fishing and exploited populations survey, etc.); Fish; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic aspects; Genetic markers; Genetic structure; Genetics; Life Sciences; Lutjanidae; Lutjanus kasmira; Marine; Marine protected areas; Oceans; Physiological aspects; Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution
• ISSN: 0706-652X; 1205-7533
• DOI: 10.1139/f2012-012

Examining the genetic structure of species allows an estimate of the level of evolutionary connectivity between localities; this information is important for marine biodiversity protection, in particular, for the delineation of marine protected areas. In this context, a total of 601 Lutjanus kasmira (Forsskål, 1775) were sampled in 16 localities of the western Indian Ocean and analyzed with both mitochondrial cytochrome b sequencing and eight microsatellite loci genotyping. Both genetic markers indicate that differentiation was not significant even between samples separated by more than 4000 km. This absence of genetic differentiation among samples was favored by ecological plasticity of the species and is now ensured by resultant high levels of dispersal. Nevertheless, some significant genetic structure was detected for the areas of Mauritius and Moroni, as well as within populations in all localities, which will have to be explained by additional studies on local processes.