Spatio-temporal patterns of genetic variations in populations of yellowtail kingfish Seriola lalandi from the south-eastern Pacific Ocean and potential implications for its fishery management.

Abstract

The genetic population structure and genetic diversity of yellowtail kingfish Seriola lalandi from the coastal south-eastern Pacific Ocean (SEP) were evaluated at spatiotemporal scale in order to understand the ecology of this species. Between 2012 and 2015, temporal and spatial population genetic structure and a low genetic diversity were detected in S. lalandi from SEP. These results suggest that S. lalandi specimens arriving annually from offshore to the SEP coast could come from at least two genetically distinct populations, revealing a particular life strategy (i.e. reproductive or habitat segregation) for this fish species. Therefore, the SEP coast might constitute a point of population mixing for this species. Additionally, the low genetic diversity of S. lalandi in the SEP could be a result of a founder effect or overfishing. Regardless of the process explaining the genetic diversity and structure of S. lalandi in this geographical area, this new information should be considered in order to implement successful fishery management of this resource in the South Pacific.