Population genetic structure of Marbled Rockfish, Sebastiscusmarmoratus (Cuvier, 1829), in the northwestern Pacific Ocean

Lu Liu; Xiumei Zhang; Chunhou Li; Hui Zhang; Takashi Yanagimoto; Na Song; Tianxiang Gao

doi:10.3897/zookeys.830.30586

Population genetic structure of Marbled Rockfish, Sebastiscusmarmoratus (Cuvier, 1829), in the northwestern Pacific Ocean

Zookeys. 2019 Mar 14:830:127-144. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.830.30586. eCollection 2019.

Authors

Lu Liu¹, Xiumei Zhang^{1

2}, Chunhou Li³, Hui Zhang⁴, Takashi Yanagimoto⁵, Na Song¹, Tianxiang Gao⁶

Affiliations

¹ The Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, 266071 Qingdao, China Ocean University of China Qingdao China.
² Laboratory for Marine Fisheries and Aquaculture, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, 266072 Qingdao, China Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology Qingdao China.
³ South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, 510003 Guangzhou, China South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute Guangzhou China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environment Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 266071 Qingdao, China Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Qingdao China.
⁵ National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 2368648 Yokohama, Japan Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency Yokohama Japan.
⁶ Fisheries College, Zhejiang Ocean University, 316000 Zhoushan, China Zhejiang Ocean University Zhoushan China.

Abstract

Sebastiscusmarmoratus is an ovoviviparous fish widely distributed in the northwestern Pacific. To examine the gene flow and test larval dispersal strategy of S.marmoratus in Chinese and Japanese coastal waters, 421 specimens were collected from 22 localities across its natural distribution. A 458 base-pair fragment of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region was sequenced to examine genetic diversity and population structure. One-hundred-six variable sites defined 166 haplotypes. The populations of S.marmoratus showed high haplotype diversity with a range from 0.8587 to 0.9996, indicating a high level of intrapopulation genetic diversity. Low non-significant genetic differentiation was estimated among populations except those of Hyogo, Behai, and Niiigata, which showed significant genetic differences from the other populations. The demographic history examined by neutrality tests, mismatch distribution analysis, and Bayesian skyline analysis suggested a sudden population expansion dating to the late Pleistocene. Recent population expansion in the last glacial period, wide dispersal of larvae by coastal currents, and the homogeneity of the environment may have important influences on the population genetic pattern. Knowledge of genetic diversity and genetic structure will be crucial to establish appropriate fishery management of S.marmoratus.

Keywords: Sebastiscus marmoratus; Genetic diversity; genetic structure; historical population demographics; mtDNA control region.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant numbers 41776171, 41176117, 31172447) and Fund of Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation & Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, P. R. China (grant numbers FREU2018-04).