Heterozygosity fitness correlations and generation interval of the Norway lobster in the Aegean Sea, eastern Mediterranean

Georgios A Gkafas,Costas S Tsigenopoulos,Emmanouil E Malandrakis,Elena Mente,Dimitrios Vafidis,Ioannis T Karapanagiotidis,Athanasios Exadactylos,Marianthi Hatziioannou

doi:10.1186/s40709-019-0103-0

Georgios A Gkafas, Costas S Tsigenopoulos + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40709-019-0103-0

Copy DOI

Abstract

BackgroundComprehensively detailed information on population dynamics for benthic species is crucial since potential admixture of individuals could shift the genetic subdivision and age structure during a full breeding period. The apparent genetic impact of the potential recruitment strategy of Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus is still under research. For this reason the present study was focused on genetic variation of the species over a given continuous year period in a semi-enclosed gulf of the Aegean Sea.ResultsAnalyses revealed that the relative smaller size class in females and the apparent faster growth of males may represent a key-role differential strategy for the two sexes, whereas females tend to mature slower. Heterozygosity fitness correlations (HFCs) showed substantially significant associations suggesting that inbreeding depression for females and outbreeding depression for males are the proximate fitness mechanisms, respectively.ConclusionsNephrops norvegicus uniformal genetic composition (background of high gene flow), could be attributed to potential population recolonization, due to a hypothesized passive larval movement from deeper waters, which may suggest that some offspring of local residents and potential male non-breeders from other regions admixture randomly.

Highlights

Detailed information on population dynamics for benthic species is crucial since potential admixture of individuals could shift the genetic subdivision and age structure during a full breeding period
Significant departures from Hardy– Weinberg equilibrium occurred at random loci and Linkage Disequilibrium was found at multiple loci pairs
An unclear geographical pattern among lobster populations has been recorded; an IBD model of geographical and genetic distances was not valid [9]. These findings have been discussed under a background of high gene flow, temporal sampling over differential generations was of great interest among N. norvegicus populations, in order to test if the observed genetic pattern remains stable over time, and in order to clarify the model of genetic and size classes structuring

Summary

Introduction

Detailed information on population dynamics for benthic species is crucial since potential admixture of individuals could shift the genetic subdivision and age structure during a full breeding period. The apparent genetic impact of the potential recruitment strategy of Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus is still under research For this reason the present study was focused on genetic variation of the species over a given continuous year period in a semi-enclosed gulf of the Aegean Sea. Lobsters are a quite expensive, valuable type of tasty seafood as they are considered as a “delicatessen” around the world. Nephrops norvegicus is a marine benthic decapod crustacean (Family Nephropidae) with a wide geographical and bathymetric distribution (captured even at 400 m in northern Aegean Sea fishing grounds). It is considered as highly commercial important species resulting in a recent interest as a new candidate species for aquaculture [3, 5, 6].

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion