Population structure, long-term connectivity, and effective size of mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis) in the Caribbean Sea and Florida Keys

Genetic structure and average long-term connectivity and effective size of mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis) sampled from offshore localities in the U.S. Caribbean and the Florida Keys were assessed by using nuclear-encoded microsatellites and a fragment of mitochondrial DNA. No significant differences in allele, genotype (microsatellites), or haplotype (mtDNA) distributions were detected; tests of selective neutrality (mtDNA) were nonsignificant after Bonferroni correction. Heuristic estimates of average long-term rate of migration (proportion of migrant individuals/generation) between geographically adjacent localities varied from 0.0033 to 0.0054, indicating that local subpopulations could respond independently of environmental perturbations. Estimates of average longterm effective population sizes varied from 341 to 1066 and differed significantly among several of the localities. These results indicate that over time larval drift and interregional adult movement may not be sufficient to maintain population sustainability across the region and that there may be different demographic stocks at some of the localities studied. The estimate of long-term effective population size at the locality offshore of St. Croix was below the minimum threshold size considered necessary to maintain the equilibrium between the loss of adaptive genetic variance from genetic drift and its replacement by mutation. Genetic variability in mutton snapper likely is maintained at the intraregional level by aggregate spawning and random mating of local populations. This feature is perhaps ironic in that aggregate spawning also renders mutton snapper especially vulnerable to overexploitation

Comparisons of mean length-based mortality estimators and age-structured models for six southeastern US stocks

Length-based mortality estimators have been developed as alternative assessment methods for data-limited stocks. We compared mortality estimates from three methodologically related mean length-based methods to those from an age-structured model (ASM). We estimated fishing mortality and determined overfishing status, i.e. if F/FMSY \u3e 1, for six stocks which support important recreational and commercial fisheries in the southeastern United States. The similarities in historical fishing mortality between the length-based methods and the most recent assessments varied among the case studies, but the classification of overfishing status in the terminal year did not differ based on the choice of model for all six stocks. There was also high agreement in the number of overfishing years within different historical periods. Applications of length-based methods can be consistent with the results that might be obtained from an ASM. In one case, diagnostics were used to identify the problems with the length-based estimators. The potential for determining overfishing status from these methods can encourage data collection programmes for unassessed stocks

Population Structure, Long-Term Connectivity, and Effective Size of Mutton Snapper (\u3ci\u3eLutjanus analis\u3c/i\u3e) In the Caribbean Sea and Florida Keys

Genetic structure and average long-term connectivity and effective size of mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis) sampled from offshore localities in the U.S. Caribbean and the Florida Keys were assessed by using nuclear-encoded microsatellites and a fragment of mitochondrial DNA. No significant differences in allele, genotype (microsatellites), or haplotype (mtDNA) distributions were detected; tests of selective neutrality (mtDNA) were nonsignificant after Bonferroni correction. Heuristic estimates of average long-term rate of migration (proportion of migrant individuals/generation) between geographically adjacent localities varied from 0.0033 to 0.0054, indicating that local subpopulations could respond independently of environmental perturbations. Estimates of average long-term effective population sizes varied from 341 to 1066 and differed significantly among several of the localities. These results indicate that over time larval drift and interregional adult movement may not be sufficient to maintain population sustainability across the region and that there may be different demographic stocks at some of the localities studied. The estimate of long-term effective population size at the locality offshore of St. Croix was below the minimum threshold size considered necessary to maintain the equilibrium between the loss of adaptive genetic variance from genetic drift and its replacement by mutation. Genetic variability in mutton snapper likely is maintained at the intraregional level by aggregate spawning and random mating of local populations. This feature is perhaps ironic in that aggregate spawning also renders mutton snapper especially vulnerable to overexploitation

Genetic Divergence and Effective Size among Lane Snapper in US Waters of the Western Atlantic Ocean

Population structure of lane snapper Lutjanus synagris in U.S. waters in the northern Caribbean Sea was assessed using nuclear-encoded microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from samples from four localities in the U.S. Caribbean and one locality in the Florida Keys. Significant heterogeneity was detected for both allele and genotype distributions (microsatellites) and for haplotype distribution (mtDNA). Pairwise comparisons revealed that fish in the Florida Keys differed significantly from fish in the U.S. Caribbean with respect to both microsatellites and mtDNA. A parsimony network of mtDNA haplotypes was consistent with division of the five sample localities into two distinct populations. Genetic diversity at both microsatellites and mtDNA was greater among fish from the Florida Keys. The average, long-term migration rate from the U.S. Caribbean westward to the Florida Keys was approximately 1.75-fold greater than the reverse, suggesting that the elevated genetic variability among fish from the Florida Keys reflects the westward movement of alleles as a function of westward-flowing surface currents in the region. Bayesian coalescent analysis (microsatellites) indicated that each of the two populations has experienced a 10-fold decline in effective population size (Ne). Estimates of long-term effective size, generated using a coalescent, maximum-likelihood method, were 1,671.9 (Florida Keys) and 2,923.2 (U.S. Caribbean). Estimates of contemporaneous effective size, generated using a linkage-disequilibrium approach with minor alleles (those with frequencies of 0.02 or less) being excluded, were 275.6 (Florida Keys) and 668.9 (U.S. Caribbean) and differed significantly from one another. Because the samples contained mixed cohorts, the short-term estimates reflect the effective number of breeders (Nb) that produced the cohort(s) from which the samples were taken. The difference between the long-term and short-term estimates of Ne (or Nb) suggests that the declines in the effective size of both populations are relatively recent and that management concern over lane snapper in the Florida Keys is justified

Conservation Genetics and Management of Yellowtail Snapper, \u3ci\u3eOcyurus chrysurus\u3c/i\u3e, in the US Caribbean and South Florida

Population-genetic structure and average long-term effective size of yellowtail snapper, Ocyurus chrysurus (Bloch), sampled offshore from the Florida Keys and four localities in the US Caribbean, were investigated using nuclear-encoded microsatellites and a fragment of the mitochondrially encoded ND-4 gene. Analysis of spatial genetic variation revealed occurrence of up to four groupings (stocks) of yellowtail snapper: one in the Florida Keys, one along the west coast of Puerto Rico, one that includes the east coast of Puerto Rico and St. Thomas and one offshore of St. Croix. The observed genetic differences among localities are not strong, and additional sampling to examine whether the observed patterns of population structure are temporally stable is warranted. Levels of genetic variability and estimates of average, long-term effective size (Ne) indicate that yellowtail snapper at all five localities have, at present, sufficient genetic variation to maintain long-term integrity and sustainability

Data from: Does mating behaviour affect connectivity in marine fishes? Comparative population genetics of two protogynous groupers (Family Serranidae)

Pelagic larval duration (PLD) has been hypothesized to be the primary predictor of connectivity in marine fishes; however, few studies have examined the effects that adult reproductive behaviour may have on realized dispersal. We assessed gene flow (connectivity) by documenting variation in microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA sequences in two protogynous species of groupers, the aggregate spawning red hind, Epinephelus guttatus, and the single-male, harem-spawning coney, Cephalopholis fulva, to ask if reproductive strategy affects connectivity. Samples of both species were obtained from waters off three islands (Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, and St. Croix) in the Caribbean Sea. Despite the notion that aggregate spawning of red hind may facilitate larval retention, stronger signals of population structure were detected in the harem-spawning coney. Heterogeneity and/or inferred barriers, based on microsatellites, involved St. Croix (red hind and coney) and the west coast of Puerto Rico (coney). Heterogeneity and/or inferred barriers, based on mitochondrial DNA, involved St. Croix (coney only). Genetic divergence in both species was stronger for microsatellites than for mitochondrial DNA, suggesting sex-biased dispersal in both species. Long-term migration rates, based on microsatellites, indicated asymmetric gene flow for both species in the same direction as mean surface currents in the region. Red hind had higher levels of variation in microsatellites and lower levels of variation in mitochondrial DNA. Long-term effective size and effective number of breeders were greater for red hind; estimates of θf a proxy for long-term effective female size, were the same in both species. Patterns of gene flow in both species appear to stem in part from shared aspects of larval and adult biology, local bathymetry, and surface current patterns. Differences in connectivity and levels of genetic variation between the species, however, likely stem from differences in behaviour related to reproductive strategy