Molecular and morphologic approaches to discrimination of variability patterns in chub mackerel, Scomber japonicus

• Published in: Journal of experimental marine biology and ecology 2000-10, Vol.253 (1), p.63-74
• Main Authors: Roldán, Marı́a Inés, Perrotta, Ricardo G., Cortey, Martı́, Pla, Carles
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agnatha. Pisces; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Atlantic Ocean; Biological and medical sciences; Chub mackerel; Exploitation and management of natural biological resources (hunting, fishing and exploited populations survey, etc.); Fisheries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Isozymes; Mediterranean Sea; Morphology; Population structure; Scomber japonicus; Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution
• ISSN: 0022-0981; 1879-1697
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-0981(00)00244-6

The systematic status and the evolutionary biology of chub mackerel ( Scomber japonicus) in the South West Atlantic Ocean is confusing with an unknown degree of genetic differentiation and reproductive isolation between units. Simultaneous genetic and morphologic analyses were made on 227 fish collected from two areas of the South West Atlantic Ocean and one from the Mediterranean Sea. The genetic analysis was based on 36 protein-coding loci, 16 of which were variable. The morphologic analyses include six morphometric length measurements and a meristic character. Correspondence between genetic and morphologic variability patterns indicates isolated Mediterranean and Southwest Atlantic subgroups of S. japonicus and, less clearly, possible additional divergence in two regional stocks within the latter group. The most conservative approach to management is to manage the stocks independently of one another.