Abstract
The red cusk-eel (Genypterus chilensis, Guichenot 1848) is an iconic species in Chilean gastronomy, with a cultural significance that extends beyond its economic value, worthy of conservation. Despite the decline in fishery productivity across most of the distribution range for this species, little effort has been devoted to assessing stock management. In the present study, seven heterologous microsatellite loci (cmrGb3.8.1, cmrGb5.2B, cmrGb4.2A, cmrGb4.2B, cmrGb5.9, cmrGb4.11 and cmrGb2.6.1) were genotyped in a total of 153 individuals from four locations in central and southern Chile (30.5oS–37.6oS), comprising ~1000 km of coastline. Five microsatellite loci were consistently amplified with a low frequency of null alleles (<2.5%). These markers showed high average heterozygosity (HO=0.886 and HE=0.884) and PIC (0.869). Significant genetic differentiation among locations (global FST=0.043, global DJost=0.252) suggested the presence of at least three different genetic groups along the Chilean coast, with moderate levels of admixture between the two central populations (0.168 <Qmean<0.822). The southern population showed no admixture with the central populations (Qmean=0.985), less allelic richness and a small effective population size, indicating that urgent management measures must be developed for this fishery. The present study provides baseline information to assist fishery and aquaculture management, contribute to recovery of declining populations, promote sustainable fishing and aquaculture and avoid the collapse of red cusk-eel production.
Highlights
Genypterus chilensis is an eel-like marine fish in the Ophidiidae family, endemic to the southeastern Pacific coast with a latitudinal distribution from Paita, Peru (5◦05 S) to Chonos Archipelago, Chile (47◦75 S) (Boré and Martínez, 1981)
We describe the genetic diversity and population structure of G. chilensis from four Chilean locations (Coquimbo, Zapallar, Laguna Verde, and Lebu) along 1,000 km of coastline, with five microsatellite loci developed for G. blacodes (Ward and Reilly, 2001)
We identify two genetic groups of red cusk-eel along the coast of Chile, and this population structure should be taken into account in designing species management strategies
Summary
Genypterus chilensis is an eel-like marine fish in the Ophidiidae family, endemic to the southeastern Pacific coast with a latitudinal distribution from Paita, Peru (5◦05 S) to Chonos Archipelago, Chile (47◦75 S) (Boré and Martínez, 1981). 100–250 cm and body weight of 5–15 kg and is sexually dimorphic in size, with females larger than males (Colorado Chile S.A., 2016) This iteroparous, partial spawner has a pelagic larval life span of 30–45 days, similar to other benthic marine organisms (Chong and González, 2009; Marshall and Morgan, 2011; Toledo et al, 2017). The pelagic larvae are expected to be distributed by ocean currents over wide geographic areas, contributing to panmixia (Cowen et al, 2007; Rojas-Hernandez et al, 2016). This fish is thought to have limited genetic structure due to the lack of oceanographic barriers, which promotes connectivity
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
