Evidence of flow and low genetic structure between populations of the Gulf of Mexico and the Mexican Pacific of white mullet, Mugil curema (Pisces) inferred from single nucleotide polymorphisms

Mugil curema is a common species in coastal areas to which is conferred reproductive migrations to the open sea with possibilities to spawn in estuarine waters. Previous studies described it as a species complex, which could be explained in terms of reproductive isolation and/or philopatric behavior. In order to test philopatry in M. curema, 10 locations in the Gulf of Mexico, one in the Atlantic Ocean, and three in the Mexican Pacific were sampled. One hundred individuals were analyzed with Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I (COI), 121 with control region, and 380 with microsatellite loci. The mitochondrial results showed two lineages: Gulf of Mexico (GOM) and Mexican Pacific (MP) separated by a genetic distance of 4.5% with COI and 11.7% with control region. However, shared haplotypes were found between oceans, suggesting evidence of an ancestral connection. In addition, genetic structure was found in MP, suggesting the possibility of cryptic lineages. The microsatellite results showed genetic connection between GOM and MP probably as a consequence of a recent contact. It also showed genetic structure within GOM and MP; genetic subgroups were different by sex for the GOM (FST=0.348 ♂ and 0.275 ♀) and similar for the MP (FST=0.233 ♂ and 0.166 ♀). Based on the results of genetic structure and gene flow the hypothesis of sex-specific philopatry in GOM (♂ philopatric) and both sexes in MP is supported. The divergence found between GOM and MP, and the different philopatric behavior support the hypothesis that they may represent two distinct lineages.

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Evidence of flow and low genetic structure between populations of the Gulf of Mexico and the Mexican Pacific of white mullet, Mugil curema (Pisces) inferred from single nucleotide polymorphisms

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References 77 publications

Population genomic and size distribution data suggest high genetic connectivity in the sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus) along a 2700 km coastline

Population genomic and size distribution data suggest high genetic connectivity in the sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus) along a 2700 km coastline

Evidence of philopatry in white mullet Mugil curema (Pisces: Mugilidae)

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