The complete mitochondrial genome of the Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus

J Antonio Baeza

doi:10.1038/s41598-018-36132-6

Abstract

Panulirus argus is a keystone species and target of the most lucrative fishery in the Caribbean region. This study reports, for the first time, the complete mitochondrial genome of Panulirus argus (average coverage depth nucleotide−1 = 70×) assembled from short Illumina 150 bp PE reads. The AT-rich mitochondrial genome of Panulirusargus was 15 739 bp in length and comprised 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and 22 transfer RNA genes. A single 801 bp long intergenic space was assumed to be the D-loop. Most of the PCGs were encoded on the H-strand. The gene order observed in the mitochondrial genome of Panulirus argus corresponds to the presumed Pancrustacean ground pattern. KA/KS ratios calculated for all mitochondrial PCGs showed values < 1, indicating that all these PCGs are evolving under purifying selection. A maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis (concatenated PCGs [n = 13], 154 arthropods) supported the monophyly of the Achelata and other infraorders within the Decapoda. Mitochondrial PCGs have enough phylogenetic informativeness to explore high-level genealogical relationships in the Pancrustacea. The complete mitochondrial genome of the Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirusargus will contribute to the better understanding of meta-population connectivity in this keystone overexploited species.

Highlights

Within the order Decapoda, one of the most species-rich and diverse crustacean clades[1], spiny and slipper lobsters exhibit a remarkable morphological, ecological, and behavioral disparity[2]
Despite the commercial value and ecological importance of P. argus, few genomic resources exist for this species that could improve our understanding of its life cycle and the health of its populations[13,14]
Most of the protein-coding genes (PCGs) and transfer RNA (tRNA) genes were encoded on the H-strand

Summary

Introduction

Within the order Decapoda, one of the most species-rich and diverse crustacean clades[1], spiny and slipper lobsters (infraorder Achelata) exhibit a remarkable morphological, ecological, and behavioral disparity[2]. Genomic resources are lacking in the infraorder Achelata and this lack of knowledge is limiting our understanding of morphological, ecological, and behavioral innovations in spiny and slipper lobsters. Within the Achelata, the Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus (Latreille, 1804) is a keystone species in shallow water coral reefs[6] and target of the most lucrative fishery in the greater Caribbean region[2]. Despite the commercial value and ecological importance of P. argus, few genomic resources exist for this species that could improve our understanding of its life cycle and the health of its populations[13,14]. The phylogenetic position of P. argus among other species of spiny lobsters (Decapoda: Achelata) and of the Achelata within the Decapoda was investigated based on mitochondrial PCGs

Methods

Results

Conclusion