Population structure, growth and recruitment of the euryalinid brittle-star Astrobrachion constrictum (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) in Doubtful Sound, Fiordland, New Zealand

1997 ◽  
Vol 127 (4) ◽  
pp. 687-697 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. G. Stewart ◽  
P. V. Mladenov
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Luke Thomas

<p>Understanding patterns of gene flow across a species range is a vital component of an effective fisheries management strategy. The advent of highly polymorphic microsatellite markers has facilitated the detection of fine-scale patterns of genetic differentiation at levels below the resolving power of earlier techniques. This has triggered the wide-spread re-examination of population structure for a number of commercially targeted species. The aims of thesis were to re-investigate patterns of gene flow of the red rock lobster Jasus edwardsii throughout New Zealand and across the Tasman Sea using novel microsatellite markers. Jasus edwardsii is a keystone species of subtidal rocky reef system and supports lucrative export markets in both Australia and New Zealand. Eight highly polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed from 454 sequence data and screened across a Wellington south coast population to obtain basic diversity indices. All loci were polymorphic with the number of alleles per locus ranging from 6-39. Observed and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.563-0.937 and 0.583-0.961, respectively. There were no significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium following standard Bonferroni corrections. The loci were used in a population analysis of J. edwardsii that spanned 10 degrees of latitude and stretched 3,500 km across the South Pacific. The analysis rejected the null-hypothesis of panmixia based on earlier mDNA analysis and revealed significant population structure (FST=0.011, RST=0.028) at a wide range of scales. Stewart Island was determined to have the highest levels of genetic differentiation of all populations sampled suggesting a high degree of reproductive isolation and self-recruitment. This study also identified high levels of asymmetric gene flow from Australia to New Zealand indicating a historical source-sink relationship between the two countries. Results from the genetic analysis were consistent with results from oceanographic dispersal models and it is likely that the genetic results reflect historical and contemporary patterns of Jasus edwardsii dispersal and recruitment throughout its range.</p>


2020 ◽  
Vol 130 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-60
Author(s):  
Kirsten M Donald ◽  
Graham A McCulloch ◽  
Ludovic Dutoit ◽  
Hamish G Spencer

Abstract We examined phylogeographic structure in the direct-developing New Zealand endemic intertidal mud whelk, Cominella glandiformis. Two hundred and ninety-six whelks from 12 sites were collected from sheltered shores around New Zealand’s four largest islands (North Island, South Island, Stewart Island and Chatham Island), encompassing the geographical range of this species. Despite being direct developers, gene flow among C. glandiformis populations may occur over short distances by adult floating, and over larger distances by rafting of egg masses. Primers were developed to amplify variable microsatellite regions at six loci. All loci were variable, with 8–34 alleles/loci. Observed and expected heterozygosities were high across all alleles, with minimal evidence of null alleles. The average number of alleles varied from 3.5 (Chatham Island) to 7.5 (Waitemata Harbour). Strong genetic structure was evident, with distinct ‘eastern’ and ‘western’ groups. Each group extended over a large geographic area, including regions of unsuitable habitat, but were linked by oceanic currents. We suggest that the intraspecific geographic genetic structure in C. glandiformis has arisen due a combination of ocean currents (promoting gene flow between geographically distant regions) and upwelling areas (limiting gene flow between certain regions).


2012 ◽  
Vol 63 (6) ◽  
pp. 505 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Veríssimo ◽  
J. R. McDowell ◽  
J. E. Graves

The leafscale gulper (Centrophorus squamosus) is a wide-ranging deepwater benthopelagic shark threatened by commercial fisheries in parts of its range. Despite concerns about resource sustainability, little is known about the population structure and connectivity between critical habitats of the leafscale gulper. This study investigates the genetic population structure and the migration patterns of C. squamosus using nuclear microsatellites and mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) gene sequences. Genetic diversity was estimated and compared among sample collections from off Ireland, Portugal, the Azores, South Africa and New Zealand. The null hypothesis of genetic homogeneity among all collections was not rejected by the nuclear loci (FST (the overall genetic differentiation among sample collections) = –0.002, P = 0.88), but we found long-term genetic divergence between New Zealand and the remaining collections at the mtDNA ND2 (FCT (genetic differentation among groups of sample collections) = 0.366, P = 0.000). Migration rate estimates indicated limited female dispersal across the Indian Ocean whereas males showed less restricted dispersal. Our results are consistent with a single genetic stock of C. squamosus and the existence of sex-biased dispersal across the Indian Ocean. Widespread genetic homogeneity at nuclear loci minimizes the loss of unique adaptive genetic diversity in the event of localised depletion. However, high local fishing mortality may have far reaching impacts given the marked sex- and maturity-stage-based habitat partitioning previously reported for C. squamosus.


2014 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 343-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne C. Adkins ◽  
Islay D. Marsden ◽  
John G. Pirker

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