Genetic connectivity of lionfish (Pterois volitans) in marine protected areas of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea

Abstract

Lionfish (Pterois volitans) have rapidly invaded the tropical Atlantic and spread across the wider Caribbean in a relatively short period of time. Because of its high invasion capacity, we used it as a model to identify the connectivity among nine marine protected areas (MPAs) situated in four countries in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. This study provides evidence of local genetic differentiation of P. volitans in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. A total of 475 lionfish samples were characterized with 12 microsatellites, with 6-20 alleles per locus. Departures from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) were found in 10 of the 12 loci, all caused by heterozygous excess. Moderate genetic differentiation was observed between Chiriviche, Venezuela and Xcalak, México localities (F ST = 0.012), and between the Los Roques and the Veracruz (F ST = 0.074) sites. STRUCTURE analysis found that four genetic entities best fit our data. A unique genetic group in the Gulf of Mexico may imply that the lionfish invasion unfolded both in a counterclockwise manner in the Gulf of Mexico. In spite of the notable dispersion of P. volitans, our results show some | 3845 GUZMÁN-MÉNDEZ Et al.

What do we know about Pterois volitans in the Reefs of Veracruz, Mexico?

“…Genetic studies reveal that the lionfish population in Veracruz corresponds to the species P. volitans [5]. The first sighting of this species on the coast of Veracruz (western Gulf of Mexico) dates from 2011 in the VRS [6].…”

Reproductive Traits of Red Lionfish, Pterois volitans, at Two Sites Off the Northern Coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

“…By contrast, lionfish from The Bahamas and the Cayman Islands showed a higher occurrence of intersex (15%, Matthews and Morris 2019; 10%, Gardner 2012, respectively). The lower intersex in the gulf may be due to a genetic differentiation among lionfish populations (Guzmán-Méndez et al 2020) as suggested by Fogg et al (2017). However, the lionfish population in the north-eastern gulf has been reported to be panmictic with no sign of divergence (Pérez-Portela et al 2018).…”

Non‐native marine species risk screening and vector analysis to inform conservation management in the southern Caribbean

“…Further, broader consideration of NNS risk in relation to marine spatial planning and marine connectivity is required. For example, the presence of artificial hard substrata associated with moorings, shipwrecks and offshore energy platforms may enhance marine connectivity (Tidbury et al, 2020), which facilitates NNS introduction, establishment and spread (Guzmán-Méndez et al, 2020).…”