Genetic structure and population connectivity of the blue and red shrimp Aristeus antennatus

Sandra Heras,Laia Planella,José-Luis García-Marín,María Inés Roldán,Manuel Vera

doi:10.1038/s41598-019-49958-5

Sandra Heras, Laia Planella + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-49958-5

Copy DOI

Abstract

The blue and red shrimp Aristeus antennatus is a demersal marine species harvested by bottom trawling in the Mediterranean Sea, the adjacent Atlantic Ocean (AO) waters, and the Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean (IO). As it is considered to be a priority species for sustainable fishing, identification of its genetic stocks and the connectivity between them is essential. Using 12 microsatellite loci we detected at least four genetic stocks distributed in the Western Mediterranean (WM), Eastern Mediterranean (EM), AO, and IO and signals for a possible fifth stock in the Alborán Sea. We detected no additional population structuring within the WM. Thus, although the Almería-Orán Front exerts some isolating effect, high genetic homogeneity and gene flow are present within the WM Basin. The IO stock is genetically closer to the AO stock than to the others; thus, the species dispersion route is more likely via the Atlantic Ocean than via the Red Sea. Large effective population sizes suggest population sustainability, but moderate genetic diversity values indicate to proceed with caution. Our genetic results serve as a basis for species conservation to ensure long-term sustainability of this marine resource.

Highlights

The blue and red shrimp Aristeus antennatus (Risso, 1816) (Penaeoidea, Aristeidae) is a demersal marine decapod that inhabits the muddy bottoms of the continental slope along submarine canyons[1]
The Mozambique sample presented the highest levels of diversity (Na, allelic richness (Ar), Ho, and He in Table 1), followed by the Atlantic sample and the Mediterranean ones, which suggests that the origin of A. antennatus is outside the Mediterranean Sea
The majority of species currently found in the Mediterranean Sea are likely the result of colonisation from the Atlantic Ocean, due to the tectonic opening of the Strait of Gibraltar after 0.5 million years of the Messinian Salinity Crisis (5.9–5.3 Ma), and to a much lesser degree from the Red Sea[17,21]

Summary

Introduction

The blue and red shrimp Aristeus antennatus (Risso, 1816) (Penaeoidea, Aristeidae) is a demersal marine decapod that inhabits the muddy bottoms of the continental slope along submarine canyons[1]. Since 2006, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean Sea included A. antennatus on the list of priority species for which fishing regulation plans should be developed[5]. It is highly appreciated gastronomically and retail market prices are quite high ($70–160/ kg) in the Western Mediterranean (WM), where it has been fished most intensely. One of the primary tools for this purpose is genetic analysis, which involves the identification of genetic stocks and connectivity among them[8] Such analysis is important to study population processes of marine organisms from inaccessible habitats, such as deep-sea species[9]. A priori, the examination of more variable molecular markers, such as microsatellites, which are sensitive to small but significant genetic differences, should reveal genetic structure at a finer regional scale in populations of www.nature.com/scientificreports/

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion