High connectivity on a global scale in the pelagic wahoo, Acanthocybium solandri (tuna family Scombridae).
The population genetic structure and phylogeography of wahoo, Acanthocybium solandri, were investigated on a global scale with intron six of lactate dehydrogenase-A (ldhA6, 8 locations, N = 213) and mtDNA cytochrome b (Cytb, 10 locations, N = 322). Results show extensive sharing of haplotypes across the wahoo's entire global range, and analyses were unable to detect significant structure (nuclear F(ST) = 0.0125, P = 0.106; mtDNA Phi(ST) < 0.0001, P = 0.634). Power analyses indicated 95% confidence in detecting nuclear F(ST) > or = 0.0389 and mtDNA Phi(ST) > or = 0.0148. These findings appear unique, as most other tunas, billfishes, and oceanic sharks exhibit significant population structure on the scale of East-West Atlantic, Atlantic vs. Indian-Pacific, or East-West Pacific. Overall nuclear heterozygosity (H = 0.714) and mtDNA haplotype diversity (h = 0.918) are both high in wahoo, while overall mtDNA nucleotide diversity (pi = 0.006) and nuclear nucleotide diversity (pi = 0.004) are uniformly low, indicating a recent increase in population size. Coalescence analyses yield an estimate of effective female population size (NeF) at approximately 816,000, and a population bottleneck approximately 690,000 years ago. However, conclusions about population history from our Cytb data set are not concordant with a control region survey, a finding that will require further investigation. This is the first example of a vertebrate with a single globally distributed population, a finding we attribute to extensive dispersal at all life stages. The indications of a worldwide stock for wahoo reinforce the mandate for international cooperation on fisheries issues.
Division of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, 2912 College Avenue, Davie, Florida 33314, USA. ttheisen@fau.edu
T C
TC
Theisen
B W
BW
Bowen
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Lanier
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JD
Baldwin
D000818:Animals; D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017931:DNA Primers; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D005828:Genetics, Population; D019156:Indian Ocean; D007438:Introns / Q000235:genetics; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics; D000080864:Lactate Dehydrogenase 5; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011156:Population Density; D013045:Species Specificity; D014413:Tuna / Q000235:genetics*
D017931:DNA Primers; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D007527:Isoenzymes; D004247:DNA; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D000080864:Lactate Dehydrogenase 5