Abstract
This study was focused on conservation genetics of threatened Hippocampus guttulatus on the Atlantic coast of NW Iberian Peninsula. Information about spatial structure and temporal stability of wild populations was obtained based on microsatellite markers, and used for monitoring a captive breeding program firstly initiated in this zone at the facilities of the Institute of Marine Research (Vigo, Spain). No significant major genetic structure was observed regarding the biogeographical barrier of Cape Finisterre. However, two management units under continuous gene flow are proposed based on the allelic differentiation between South-Atlantic and Cantabrian subpopulations, with small to moderate contemporary effective size based on single-sample methods. Temporal stability was observed in South-Atlantic population samples of H. guttulatus for the six-year period studied, suggesting large enough effective population size to buffer the effects of genetic drift within the time frame of three generations. Genetic analysis of wild breeders and offspring in captivity since 2009 allowed us to monitor the breeding program founded in 2006 in NW Spain for this species. Similar genetic diversity in the renewed and founder broodstock, regarding the wild population of origin, supports suitable renewal and rearing processes to maintain genetic variation in captivity. Genetic parentage proved single-brood monogamy in the wild and in captivity, but flexible short- and long-term mating system under captive conditions, from strict monogamy to polygamy within and/or among breeding seasons. Family analysis showed high reproductive success in captivity under genetic management assisted by molecular relatedness estimates to avoid inbreeding. This study provides genetic information about H. guttulatus in the wild and captivity within an uncovered geographical range for this data deficient species, to be taken into account for management and conservation purposes.
Highlights
Seahorses (Hippocampus spp.) are endangered species due to population decline of many wild populations by means of direct overexploitation, incidental captures, habitat destruction and other anthropogenic perturbations [1,2,3]
Genetic diversity in H. guttulatus in this study could be related with population demography, based on the decline reported in some coastal areas of Galicia [9]
Parentage analysis in this study proved the single-brood genetic monogamy of wild-caught pregnant males from Galician populations of H. guttulatus for the first time in the wild
Summary
Seahorses (Hippocampus spp.) are endangered species due to population decline of many wild populations by means of direct overexploitation, incidental captures, habitat destruction and other anthropogenic perturbations [1,2,3]. The entire genus Hippocampus was listed as threatened by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species [4]. It is listed as near threatened, vulnerable or endangered in different European countries [5] It is included in the list of threatened species and habitats by the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic [6], together with Cymodocea meadows and Zostera beds, commonly inhabited by seahorses, which reinforces the conservation value of these vulnerable marine ecosystems. Spanish legislation has recently included the Mediterranean and Atlantic Iberian populations of H. guttulatus, C. nodosa and Z. marina into the list of wild species under special protection [7]
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