Abstract
The yellowstripe scad,Selaroides leptolepis(Carangidae), is an important fish commodity in the Tropical Western Pacific (TWP). It has a latitudinal Pacific range from south of Japan down to northern Australia, with the highest concentration in Southeast Asia. However, its TWP fishing grounds have long been a hotspot of unsustainable exploitations, thus threatening the remaining wild populations. Despite the species’ commercial significance, there is limited understanding of its genetic structure and diversity. Herein, the genetic structure ofS. leptolepiswas examined using mitochondrialCOIandCytBsequences. Both markers denoted significant genetic structuring based on high overall FSTvalues. Hierarchical analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA), maximum likelihood (ML) phylogenetic trees, and median-joining (MJ) haplotype networks strongly supported the occurrence of two allopatrically distributed lineages. These comprised of a widespread Asian lineage and an isolated Australian lineage. Within-lineage distances were low (K2P < 1%) whereas across-lineage distances were remarkably high (K2P > 6%), already comparable to that of interspecific carangid divergences. Haplotype sequence memberships, high genetic variations, and the geographic correlation suggested that the Australian lineage was a putative cryptic species. Historical demographic inferences also revealed that the species experienced rapid expansion commencing on the late Pleistocene, most likely during the end of the Last Glacial Maximum (∼20,000 years ago). The present study encouraged the application of lineage-specific management efforts, as the lineages are experiencing different evolutionary pressures. Overall, accurate knowledge of the species’ genetic distribution is fundamental in protecting its diversity and assuring stock sustainability.
Highlights
The yellowstripe scad, Selaroides leptolepis, is an economically important fish commodity in the Tropical Western Pacific (TWP)
Fifty-one haplotypes were identified from the 517-bp Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) fragment (GenBank accession numbers: MZ520638–MZ520664), whereas 49 haplotypes were identified from the 527-bp Cytochrome B (CytB) (GenBank accession numbers: MZ55565 8–MZ555703)
69 and 65 polymorphic sites were identified for COI and CytB, of which 45 and 40 were parsimony informative, and 22 and 25 were singleton variables, respectively
Summary
The yellowstripe scad, Selaroides leptolepis, is an economically important fish commodity in the Tropical Western Pacific (TWP). This species is highly exploited in Southeast Asian countries, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and in the United Arab Emirates (Kempter, 2015; Figure 1). The S. leptolepis is commonly consumed fried, steamed, sun-dried, and even prepared. Population Genetics of Yellowstripe Scad as components of surimi and burger patties (Yu and Siah, 1998; Arfat and Benjakul, 2012). Since the market price of S. leptolepis is relatively more affordable than other fish groups (Kempter, 2015), it is highly patronized by local consumers. The species’ commercial significance, makes it a vulnerable target of extensive exploitations
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