High self-recruitment levels in a Mediterranean littoral fish population revealed by microsatellite markers

Self-recruitment rates are essential parameters in the estimation of connectivity among populations, having important consequences in marine conservation biology. Using ten highly polymorphic microsatellite loci, we estimate, over 3 years, the self-recruitment in a population of Tripterygion delaisi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine biology 2007-04, Vol.151 (2), p.719-727
Main Authors: Carreras-Carbonell, Josep, Macpherson, Enrique, Pascual, Marta
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
adults
Agnatha. Pisces
Animal and plant ecology
Animal populations
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Conservation biology
Fish
Fish populations
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gene loci
Genetic diversity
genetic markers
Larvae
larval development
Life history
littoral zone
Marine
Marine biology
Marine conservation
microsatellite repeats
Sea water ecosystems
Spawning
Synecology
Tripterygion delaisi
Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution
Wildlife conservation
wildlife management
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Summary:Self-recruitment rates are essential parameters in the estimation of connectivity among populations, having important consequences in marine conservation biology. Using ten highly polymorphic microsatellite loci, we estimate, over 3 years, the self-recruitment in a population of Tripterygion delaisi in the NW Mediterranean. Six previously described source populations were used for the assignment (Costa Brava, Columbretes, Formentera, Cabo de Palos, Cabo de Gata and Tarifa). Even though this species has a 16–21 day larval duration, a mean of 66.4 ± 1.4% of the recruits settled in their natal population. When refining in a more local scale the origin of individuals self-recruited to Costa Brava, using as source the three sampling localities that conform this population (Cap de Creus, Tossa and Blanes), the highest percentage (40.6 ± 8.9%) was self-assigned to the adult source locality (Blanes) where recruits were sampled each year. Our results suggest that a high proportion of the larvae of T. delaisi remained close to, or never leave, their natal spawning area. This observation can be extrapolated to other species with similar early life-history traits and low adult mobility and can have important implications for the conservation and management of Mediterranean littoral fishes.
ISSN:0025-3162
1432-1793
DOI:10.1007/s00227-006-0513-z