Genetic connectivity and population expansion inferred from multilocus analysis in Lutjanus alexandrei (Lutjanidae-Perciformes), an endemic snapper from Northeastern Brazilian coast

PeerJ. 2023 Sep 26:11:e15973. doi: 10.7717/peerj.15973. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Previous studies about the genetic diversity, connectivity and demographic history in Lutjanidae fishes have reported a common pattern of genetic homogeneity and expansion in populations from Western South Atlantic. In the present work, we inferred the population structure, the levels of genetic diversity and the demographic history of the Brazilian snapper Lutjanus alexandrei, a recently described and endemic species from Northeastern coast of Brazil. Five different fragments, including mitochondrial DNA (Control Region, Cyt b and ND4) and nuclear DNA (Myostatin and S7) regions were analyzed in 120 specimens of L. alexandrei from four localities in Northeastern Brazil, representing the first study of population genetics in this species. High levels of genetic diversity were observed following a panmictic pattern, probably related to the larval dispersal by the current tides along the Brazilian coast. In addition, both demographic history and neutrality tests indicated that L. alexandrei has undergone population expansion during Pleistocene. In this sense, the sea level variation from this period could have increased the available resources and suitable habitats for the Brazilian snapper.

Keywords: Atlantic Ocean; Endemicity; Genetic diversity; Population structure; Snapper.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics
  • Fishes* / genetics
  • Genetics, Population
  • Perciformes* / genetics

Substances

  • DNA, Mitochondrial

Grants and funding

The financial support for this work was granted by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development—CNPq (grants 306233/2009-6 to Iracilda Sampaio, 306233/2009-6 to Horacio Schneider) and by the graduation scholarship on behalf of Ivana Veneza. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.