Evidence of Genetic Segregation among Meagre (Argyrosomus regius) Atlantic Spawning Areas

• Published in: Journal of marine science and engineering Vol. 10; no. 12; p. 1843
• Main Authors: Almeida, Rita, Mateus, Catarina S., Alves, Maria Judite, Marques, João P., Pereira, Joana, Prista, Nuno, Cabral, Henrique, Almeida, Pedro R., Quintella, Bernardo R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.12.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Analysis; Aquaculture; Argyrosomus regius; Atlantic Ocean; Biological diversity; Breeding; Coasts; demographic history; Earth Sciences; Estuaries; Fish and Aquacultural Science; Fish industry; Fisheries; Fisheries management; Fishery management; Fishery resources; Fishing; Fisk- och akvakulturforskning; gene flow; Genetic aspects; Genetic diversity; Genetic structure; Genetic variation; Identification; International cooperation; International economic relations; Microsatellites; Oceanography; Overexploitation; Polyculture (aquaculture); Population; Population biology; Population dynamics; population structure; Sciences of the Universe; Segregation; Spawning; spawning areas; stock management; Stocks; Mauritania; Morocco; France; Portugal; Atlantic Ocean; United States > US; Mediterranean Sea; gene flow; spawning areas; population structure; demographic history; Atlantic Ocean; stock management; Atlantic Oceans; pawning areas; Atlantic Ocean spawning areas demographic history gene flow population structure stock management
• DOI: 10.3390/jmse10121843
• ISSN: 2077-1312

The meagre Argyrosomus regius, one of the largest sciaenidae in the world, is a valuable resource for fisheries and aquaculture. Despite its socioeconomic relevance, knowledge about population dynamics and wild stocks is still scarce, and conservation risks are associated with overexploitation. Two genetic distinct groups, one in the North Atlantic Ocean and one in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, were identified by previous studies. However, little is known about the genetic structure of the Atlantic group, where four important spawning areas have been identified. To assess if each spawning area is an independent breeding unit, the genetic diversity, populational structure, and demographic history of A. regius along the North–East and Eastern Central Atlantic coast were analyzed, using 15 microsatellite loci. Results corroborate the hypothesis tested, suggesting four genetic groups: a first group encompassing individuals from the Gironde spawning area, a second group encompassing individuals from the Tagus spawning area, a third group corresponding to individuals captured in the Algarve region, and a forth group gathering individuals from Morocco and Mauritania. This study reveals the need for specific fisheries management plans considering genetic structure information, and highlights the need for international cooperation.