黄颡鱼微卫星标记的筛选及三个野生群体的遗传结构分析

为了探明长江中上游流域黄颡鱼野生群体的遗传多样性状况和遗传结构,本研究采用磁珠富集法筛选出10个黄颡鱼微卫星标记,并利用其对长江中上游流域3个黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus fulvidrac)野生群体(赤水群体、乐山群体、洞庭群体)的遗传结构进行分析。获得65个阳性克隆并测序,得到36个含有微卫星的序列,设计并合成了22对微卫星引物,经筛选得到10对多态性稳定的引物,其中高多态性位点6个,中多态位点3个。每对引物等位基因数2-9个,平均4.8。3个群体(赤水、乐山和洞庭)的平均多态信息含量(PIC)分别为0.5438、0.4568和0.3965,平均有效等位基因(Ne)分别为2.9928、2.5401和2.1713,平均期望杂合度(He)分别为0.6280、0.5277和0.4757,表明这3个群体遗传多样性水平较高,其中赤水群体遗传多样性最高,洞庭群体最低。种群分化指数(Fst)和遗传距离(Ds)分析表明,洞庭群体和乐山群体之间的亲缘关系最近,而与赤水群体的亲缘关系最远。聚类分析显示,乐山群体和洞庭群体聚为一支,赤水群体单独聚为一支。     

三个黄颡鱼群体遗传多样性及亲缘关系的微卫星标记分析

利用微卫星标记技术对3个黄颡鱼群体(W S、TE和QF)的遗传多样性及亲缘关系进行研究。通过筛选的30个引物对3个黄颡鱼群体基因组DNA的扩增,获得了19个有效引物,其中有6个微卫星位点具有多态性,并计算出了3个黄颡鱼群体间的遗传相似系数和遗传距离,TE和QF群体间的遗传相似系数最大(0.8736),遗传距离最小(0.1790);W S和QF群体间的遗传相似系数最小(0.7284),遗传距离最大(0.2768)。同时运用聚类分析(UPGMA)的方法建立了3个黄颡鱼群体的系统发生树。     

雪豹的微卫星DNA遗传多样性

利用微卫星DNA标记,对来自青海囊谦县、治多县以及甘肃阿克塞县3个地区的36份雪豹(Panthera uncia)粪便DNA样品进行了遗传多样性研究。结果显示,在8个微卫星位点上共检测到57个等位基因,有效等位基因数为2.190~5.488,平均每个位点的等位基因数为7.130,基因频率分布不均匀;期望杂合度为0.543~0.847,平均0.759;多态信息含量为0.458~0.829,平均0.722;表明这8个微卫星位点均为高度多态性位点,有较丰富的遗传多样性。3个样地雪豹居群之间的遗传距离与地理距离相关,地理距离最近的青海省囊谦县和治多县的雪豹居群遗传距离最小。根据雪豹平均遗传分化度Fst(0.053)、平均基因流(4.488)以及STRUCTURE聚类分析结果(当K=1时,ln P(D)值最大),推测3个居群间虽然有一定的遗传距离,但均来自同一个种群,暂无分化现象。     

草鱼Ⅰ型微卫星标记的发掘及其多态性检测

表达序列标签(EST)是发掘Ⅰ型微卫星标记的重要资源。研究运用生物信息学方法,从草鱼头肾组织3027条EST序列中搜索到322个微卫星位点,占整个EST数据库的10.6%。其中,二核苷酸重复位点151个(46.9%),三核苷酸重复位点137个(42.5%),四、五、六核苷酸重复位点较少;在二核苷酸重复位点中,AC/GT重复位点最为丰富,占二核苷酸重复位点总数的50.3%,AG/CT重复次之,占二核苷酸重复位点总数的40.4%,AT和GC重复较少。10个微卫星位点的多态性检测结果显示,4个位点在草鱼测试群体中呈多态性,多态性位点的平均多态信息含量(PIC)和平均遗传杂合度(H)分别为0.5236和0.5441,其中,2个多态性位点的PIC值大于0.5,呈现高度多态性特征。Ⅰ型微卫星标记将为草鱼遗传连锁图谱构建和QTL分析提供有效的基因分子标记。       

草鱼野生群体遗传变异的微卫星分析

利用12个微卫星标记, 对来自长江水系(邗江、吴江、九江、石首、木洞和万州)、珠江水系(肇庆)和黑龙江水系(嫩江)的8个草鱼野生地理群体进行了遗传多样性及遗传结构等分析。遗传多样性分析显示, 12个微卫星位点均为高度多态位点(PIC=0.755~0.930), 8个草鱼野生群体显示出较高的遗传多样性水平(Ho=0.839~0.893), 其中长江水系的6个群体和肇庆群体的多样性水平高于嫩江群体。瓶颈效应分析显示, 嫩江、肇庆群体及2个长江上游群体(木洞、万州)近期出现了瓶颈效应, 群体数量发生下降。群体间遗传分化指数F^ST及AMOVA分析显示, 群体间出现极显著遗传分化(P<0.01), 整体分化水平较低(F^ST<0.05)。遗传距离分析结果显示, 长江水系的6个群体与肇庆群体遗传距离较近, 与嫩江群体较远; 基于此的UPGMA聚类树显示, 长江水系下游、中游和上游的群体依次聚类, 然后与肇庆群体聚类, 最后与嫩江群体聚类, 遗传距离与地理距离呈现出较强的正相关性。遗传结构分析显示, 所有样本被划分为5个理论群, 肇庆和嫩江群体中个体的遗传结构相对独立, 而长江上游、中游和下游群体中个体的遗传结构则存在一定程度的混杂。综上所述, 中国草鱼野生资源具有较高的遗传多样性, 地理群体间存在遗传分化, 具有进一步遗传改良的潜力; 但部分群体出现的瓶颈效应也需要引起重视。     

三峡库区5 个鲢群体遗传变异的微卫星分析

研究利用10 个高度多态的微卫星标记对三峡水库秭归、巫山、云阳、忠县、木洞等5 个库区鲢(Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)的野生群体进行了遗传多样性分析。检测到161 个等位基因, 群体共有等位基因84 个, 每个微卫星位点的等位基因数729 不等。平均观测杂合度Ho 为0.7840.846, 平均期望杂合度He 为0.8280.847, 平均多态信息含量PIC 为0.7970.817。Fst 值为-0.0010.009, 表明5 个鲢群体间没有遗传分化。Hardy-Weinberg 平衡检验表明巫山、云阳、木洞群体在一些位点上偏离遗传平衡。Bottleneck 分析显示长江三峡库区江段的鲢群体可能在历史上经历了遗传瓶颈。5 个群体间的遗传相似系数为0.8910.950, 遗传距离为 0.0500.115, 根据 Nei's 遗传距离所绘制的聚类图, 表明鲢群体间的遗传距离与其地理距离基本一致。贝叶斯分析结果也证实三峡库区5 个鲢群体可视为一个类群。尽管没有检测到遗传分化, 数据清晰地表明三峡库区的鲢群体仍有很高的遗传多样性, 研究结果为三峡地区和长江上游的鲢种质资源保护和种群评估提供了参考。       

飘鱼微卫星位点的筛选及珠江流域5个地理群体的遗传多样性分析

为了解珠江流域飘鱼(Pseudolaubuca sinensis)群体间的遗传多样性及其分化程度, 利用RAD-Seq技术开发出微卫星位点, 并设计了100对微卫星引物, 筛选出66个可稳定扩增出目的条带的位点, 其中16个具有较高的多态性(PIC>0.5), 以2碱基重复居多。利用其中10对多态性位点对珠江流域的郁江(YuJ)、左江(ZJ)、右江(YJ)、融江(RJ)和桂江(GJ)飘鱼群体进行遗传多样性研究, 得到有效等位基因数、观测杂合度、期望杂合度范围分别为5.2028—6.3800、0.6773—0.7667和0.7975—0.8425, 表明珠江流域5个飘鱼群体具有较高的遗传多样性, 以YuJ群体遗传多样性最高, RJ群体遗传多样性为最低。且群体间各个遗传参数相差较小, 说明他们的遗传多样性水平相近。AMOVA分析显示, 遗传变异主要来自于群体内(98.45%), 仅一小部分的变异来自于群体间(1.55%), 总群体的遗传分化系数F_st为0.015, 两两群体间的F_st在–0.0033—0.0295波动, 属于低等程度的分化。群体间基因交流值(N_m)在8.2246—76.0075, 表明群体间基因交流频繁, 对遗传漂变作用的抵制能力较强。研究筛选出了多态性高的微卫星位点, 并利用其对5个飘鱼群体遗传多样性进行评价, 旨在有效地监测飘鱼的种质资源状况, 为其资源的开发利用和保护提供科学指导。     

青鱼野生与养殖群体遗传变异的微卫星分析

研究利用自主开发的12个微卫星标记, 对来自于长江水系4个野生群体(湖北石首、湖南湘江、江苏邗江、浙江嘉兴)和1个养殖群体(江苏吴江)青鱼(Mylopharyngodon piceus)进行遗传多样性和遗传结构分析。遗传多样性分析结果显示这12个位点多态信息含量(PIC)介于0.660—0.923, 表明这12个位点均具有高度多态性(PIC>0.5)。5个群体的平均等位基因数(N_a)介于7.917—11.667, 平均有效等位基因数(N_e)介于4.837—6.035; 平均观测杂合度介于0.713—0.861; 平均期望杂合度介于0.749—0.819; 平均多态信息含量介于0.711—0.788, 表明这5个群体均具有较高的遗传多样性。遗传距离分析结果表明4个野生群体之间遗传距离较近, 养殖群体与这4个野生群体遗传距离均较远。UPGMA系统进化树显示, 湘江群体和石首群体首先聚为一支, 然后与邗江群体和嘉兴群体聚为一支, 最后与吴江养殖群体聚为一支。这12个微卫星位点具有较为丰富的遗传多样性特征, 可以用于青鱼不同群体的种质资源的评估和遗传多样性的分析。     

五个罗氏沼虾群体遗传多样性的微卫星分析

利用16对微卫星标记对来自泰国(CP)、缅甸(MN)、孟加拉(BD)和中国(MP和DP)的共5个罗氏沼虾群体进行了遗传多样性和遗传结构的分析。结果显示, 16个微卫星位点均具有较高的多态性, 平均等位基因数(N_a)、期望杂合度(H_e)、Shannon信息指数(I)和多态信息含量(PIC)分别为17.563、0.8316、2.1662和0.7328。5个群体的期望杂合度(H_e)介于0.7025—0.8594, 多态信息含量(PIC)介于0.6538—0.8048, 表明所有群体均具有高度遗传多样性, 遗传多样性水平CP>MP>BD>MN>DP。遗传分化指数(F_st)值介于0.03430—0.17333, 表明所有群体间均有不同程度的遗传分化。16个微卫星位点的F_st值均大于0.05, 均值为0.0977, 与群体间有遗传分化相符。AMOVA分析显示群体间变异占总变异的6.22%, 群体内个体间的变异占总变异的40.72%, 个体内部的遗传变异占总变异的53.07%。基于Nei氏遗传距离构建的UPGMA系统进化树显示, MN群体首先与MP群体聚为一类, 再与DP群体聚为一类, 之后再与BD群体聚为一类, 最后与CP群体聚为一类, 表明中国群体与泰国群体亲缘关系较远。遗传结构分析显示, 参试样本被划分为5个理论群体, 除MP群体中个体遗传结构混杂外, 其余群体中个体遗传结构相对独立。研究为罗氏沼虾种质资源的开发利用和优良品种的选育提供了参考数据。     

广西本地鲢和长丰鲢群体遗传多样性分析

本研究采用32个微卫星标记分析广西本地鲢和长丰鲢两个群体的遗传差异,计算并统计其微卫星遗传参数。结果显示:32个微卫星标记广西本地鲢鱼和长丰鲢群体共检测到等位基因119个,其中两群体所共有为88个;平均观测等位基因数为2.937 5和3.406 2;平均有效等位基因数为1.787 3和2.074 7;多态信息含量(PIC)在0～0.727 1和0～0.748 4之间,平均值为0.293 6和0.360 0,表明两个群体的遗传多样性均不高。两群体平均观测杂合度为0.373 9和0.559 7,平均期望杂合度为0.327 1和0.413 3,均表现为本地鲢群体低于长丰鲢群体,说明两个群体的均不高,并且广西本地鲢群体的遗传多样性低于长丰鲢群体;两个鲢鱼群体间的遗传距离和遗传相似系数分别为0.297 7和0.742 5,表明两个鲢鱼群体间的遗传差异不大。两个群体的遗传分化系数(Fst)在不同微卫星位点间差异明显,平均0.171 7。本研究为广西地方鱼类种质资源保护和利用提供了理论依据。     

北太平洋两个柔鱼群体角质颚形态及生长特征

根据2011年5—11月我国鱿钓船在北太平洋海域(150°E—176°W)采集的渔获物样本,对柔鱼两个群体各项角质颚外部形态和生长进行分析。结果表明,角质颚参数值雌性均大于雄性,冬春生群体雌雄参数值间差异要大于秋生群体;角质颚各项参数值中,上头盖长(Upper Hood length,UHL)、上脊突长(Upper Crest length,UCL)、下脊突长(Lower crest length,LCL)、下翼长(Lower Wing length,LWL)与胴长、体重分别呈线性和指数关系(P0.01)。主成分分析认为,秋生群体雌、雄个体角质颚第一主成分因子均为UCL/ML,第二主成分因子均为UWL/ML,冬春生群体雌、雄个体角质颚第一主成分因子分别ULWL/ML和LLWL/ML,第二主成分分别与URW/ML和LRL/ML,这些这成分因子代表了角质颚水平和垂直方向上的生长特征。两个群体的雌性个体角质颚形态上存在显著差异,但雄性个体间差异不显著。方差分析(ANOVA)表明,2个群体不同胴长组间的角质颚形态均存在着显著差异(P0.01);LSD法分析认为,除了秋生群体雌性个体上头盖长、上喙长、下头盖长、下喙宽在胴长组250 mm和250—300 mm间不存在差异外,其他组之间均有着显著差异(P0.01)。同一群体不同性腺成熟度等级间的柔鱼角质颚形态存在显著差异(P0.01),但性成熟度为Ⅰ期和Ⅱ期时2个群体角质颚各项形态指标均存在显著差异(P0.01),而性成熟度Ⅲ期时则不存在差异(P0.05)。研究认为,不同群体的柔鱼角质颚形态及生长特征均存在着一定差异。     

基于ESDA的西北太平洋柔鱼资源空间热点区域及其变动研究

以西北太平洋(150°E—160°E、38°N—45°N)柔鱼Ommastrephes bartramii为研究对象,以2007和2010年鱿钓渔业的原始点位数据为基础,利用常规统计和探索性空间数据分析(ESDA)中的全局空间自相关分析方法,对西北太平洋柔鱼资源空间分布及其变动进行了研究。结果表明,西北太平洋柔鱼资源呈现较强的聚集分布特征,但不同空间位置差异较大。利用GIS和ESDA的局部自相关方法进行了柔鱼资源热冷点空间分布的制图,结果显示2007年研究区存在3个显著的热点和1个冷点,2010年与之存在较为明显的差异,具有1个热点和4个冷点。变化检测分析表明,两个年份间出现1个热点区域和1个冷点区域未发生变化,另有2个区域从2007年热点变成2010年冷点;此外,非热冷点之间的变动在研究区占据了主导地位。景观指数分析表明,研究区柔鱼资源热冷点格局的复杂性和自相似性并不高,但其异质性和聚集性非常强,且整体性和凝聚度均很高。分析认为,2007年西北太平洋柔鱼渔区的形成受温度和海流的影响,近一半作业渔区产量相对较高,但并未充分保证空间热点的大面积形成,空间热点和冷点分布面积大致相当;2010年整个西北太平洋柔鱼渔场受亲潮势力影响,空间热点较为集中、空间冷点较多且分散。     

西北太平洋柔鱼栖息地环境因子分析及其对资源丰度的影响

柔鱼(Ommastrephes bartramii)是西北太平洋海域重要的经济头足类,短生命周期的生活史特征决定其资源丰度易受海洋环境变化影响。根据1998—2010年我国鱿钓船生产统计资料和环境资料,包括海表温度(SST)和叶绿素浓度(Chl-a)数据,结合Nio 3.4区海表温距平值(SSTA),分析了SST和Chl-a浓度的季节和年际变化特征,并分别探讨了SST和Chl-a浓度距平值与Nio 3.4区SSTA及柔鱼资源丰度之间的关系。结果表明,产卵场海域Chl-a浓度冬季高夏季低,SST则夏季高冬季低;育肥场Chl-a和SST均呈夏季高冬季低变化,但6—12月份Chl-a浓度波动明显。产卵场和育肥场SST及Chl-a浓度年际变化明显。同时研究发现,厄尔尼诺、拉尼娜和正常年份时Nio 3.4区SSTA对柔鱼产卵场和育肥场环境的调控机制不同:拉尼娜和正常年份产卵场和育肥场温度上升,叶绿素浓度变化幅度小,有利于资源量补充,产量较高;厄尔尼诺年份温度和叶绿素均降低,尤其育肥场叶绿素浓度,对资源量产生不利影响,产量锐减。研究利用多元线性回归分别建立了基于温度和叶绿素的柔鱼资源丰度的预测模型,两者均能很好的预测柔鱼资源丰度(P0.05),但基于叶绿素的预测模型优于温度模型。     

New Nuclear SNP Markers Unravel the Genetic Structure and Effective Population Size of Albacore Tuna (Thunnus alalunga)

In the present study we have investigated the population genetic structure of albacore (Thunnus alalunga, Bonnaterre 1788) and assessed the loss of genetic diversity, likely due to overfishing, of albacore population in the North Atlantic Ocean. For this purpose, 1,331 individuals from 26 worldwide locations were analyzed by genotyping 75 novel nuclear SNPs. Our results indicated the existence of four genetically homogeneous populations delimited within the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Current definition of stocks allows the sustainable management of albacore since no stock includes more than one genetic entity. In addition, short- and long-term effective population sizes were estimated for the North Atlantic Ocean albacore population, and results showed no historical decline for this population. Therefore, the genetic diversity and, consequently, the adaptive potential of this population have not been significantly affected by overfishing.     

What Maintains the Central North Pacific Genetic Discontinuity in Pacific Herring?

Pacific herring show an abrupt genetic discontinuity in the central North Pacific that represents secondary contact between refuge populations previously isolated during Pleistocene glaciations. Paradoxically, high levels of gene flow produce genetic homogeneity among ocean-type populations within each group. Here, we surveyed variability in mtDNA control-region sequences (463 bp) and nine microsatellite loci in Pacific herring from sites across the North Pacific to further explore the nature of the genetic discontinuity around the Alaska Peninsula. Consistent with previous studies, little divergence (Φ_ST  = 0.011) was detected between ocean-type populations of Pacific herring in the North West Pacific, except for a population in the Yellow Sea (Φ_ST  = 0.065). A moderate reduction in genetic diversity for both mtDNA and microsatellites in the Yellow Sea likely reflects founder effects during the last colonization of this sea. Reciprocal monophyly between divergent mtDNA lineages (Φ_ST  = 0.391) across the Alaska Peninsula defines the discontinuity across the North Pacific. However, microsatellites did not show a strong break, as eastern Bering Sea (EBS) herring were more closely related to NE Pacific than to NW Pacific herring. This discordance between mtDNA and microsatellites may be due to microsatellite allelic convergence or to sex-biased dispersal across the secondary contact zone. The sharp discontinuity between Pacific herring populations may be maintained by high-density blocking, competitive exclusion or hybrid inferiority.     

西北太平洋柔鱼渔业生物经济模型及其管理策略

西北太平洋柔鱼是中国大陆、日本及中国台湾鱿钓船队共同开发的主要经济头足类之一,如何兼顾鱿钓船队的渔业利益,并综合考虑生态效益、经济效益和社会效益,科学制定渔业管理目标是确保柔鱼资源可持续利用的重要研究内容。根据中国大陆、日本及中国台湾鱿钓船队的渔获统计数据及相关经济参数,构建基于多船队的生物经济模型,模拟了50年内(1997—2047年)各捕捞船队开发柔鱼资源过程中的动态变化,并探讨了在10种不同的管理方案下各船队捕捞努力量、柔鱼资源量、渔获产量及其渔业利润随时间的动态变化。结果表明,在所有设计方案下,随着捕捞努力量的动态变化,资源量在前10a均呈急剧下降趋势,随后经长期波动后逐渐趋于稳定并维持在较低水平。从长期效益来看,方案9(提高中国台湾船队捕捞系数)的累计产量及累计利润中等,但能兼顾各国或地区船队间的经济利益和社会效益,可建议以方案9作为柔鱼渔业的参考管理目标;从柔鱼资源保护角度来看,方案4(提高中国大陆船队作业成本)的资源量保持最好,可以对方案4进行适当的优化作为参考管理目标,即提高中国大陆船队作业成本,同时适当降低日本船队的可捕系数,可确保柔鱼资源量保持在更高的水平上。     

MOLECULAR GENETIC EVIDENCE FOR PARALLEL LIFE-HISTORY EVOLUTION WITHIN A PACIFIC SALMON (SOCKEYE SALMON AND KOKANEE,ONCORHYNCHUS NERKA)

The Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus nerka typically occurs as a sea-run form (sockeye salmon) or may reside permanently in lakes (kokanee) thoughout its native North Pacific. We tested whether such geographically extensive ecotypic variation resulted from parallel evolutionary divergence thoughout the North Pacific or whether the two forms are monophyletic groups by examining allelic variation between sockeye salmon and kokanee at two minisatellite DNA repeat loci and in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Bgl II restriction sites. Our examination of over 750 fish from 24 populations, ranging from Kamchatka to the Columbia River, identified two major genetic groups of North Pacific O. nerka: a “northwestern” group consisting of fish from Kamchatka, western Alaska, and northwestern British Columbia, and a “southern” group consisting of sockeye salmon and kokanee populations from the Fraser and Columbia River systems. Maximum-likelihood analysis accompanied by bootstrapping provided strong support for these two genetic groups of O. nerka; the populations did not cluster by migratory form, but genetic affinities were organized more strongly by geographic proximity. The two major genetic groups resolved in our study probably stem from historical isolation and dispersal of O. nerka from two major Wisconsinan glacial refugia in the North Pacific. There were significant minisatellite DNA allele frequency differences between sockeye salmon and kokanee populations from different parts of the same watershed, between populations spawning in different tributaries of the same lake, and also between sympatric populations spawning in the same stream at the same time. MtDNA Bgl II restriction site variation was significant between sockeye salmon and kokanee spawning in different parts of the same major watershed but not between forms spawning in closer degrees of reproductive sympatry. Patterns of genetic affinity and allele sharing suggested that kokanee have arisen from sea-run sockeye salmon several times independently in the North Pacific. We conclude that sockeye salmon and kokanee are para- and polyphyletic, respectively, and that the present geographic distribution of the ecotypes results from parallel evolutionary origins of kokanee from sockeye (divergences between them) thoughout the North Pacific.     

Limited genetic variation and structure in softshell clams (Mya arenaria) across their native and introduced range

To offset declines in commercial landings of the softshell clam, Mya arenaria, resource managers are engaged in extensive stocking of seed clams throughout its range in the northwest Atlantic. Because a mixture of native and introduced stocks can disrupt locally adapted genotypes, we investigated genetic structure in M. arenaria populations across its current distribution to test for patterns of regional differentiation. We sequenced mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I for a total of 212 individuals from 12 sites in the northwest Atlantic (NW Atlantic), as well as two introduced sites, the northeast Pacific (NE Pacific), and the North Sea Europe (NS Europe). Populations exhibited extremely low genetic variation, with one haplotype dominating (65–100%) at all sites sampled. Despite being introduced in the last 150–400 years, both NE Pacific and NS Europe populations had higher diversity measures than those in the NW Atlantic and both contained private haplotypes at frequencies of 10–27% consistent with their geographic isolation. While significant genetic structure (F _ST = 0.159, P < 0.001) was observed between NW Atlantic and NS Europe, there was no evidence for genetic structure across the pronounced environmental clines of the NW Atlantic. Reduced genetic diversity in mtDNA combined with previous studies reporting reduced genetic diversity in nuclear markers strongly suggests a recent population expansion in the NW Atlantic, a pattern that may result from the retreat of ice sheets during Pleistocene glacial periods. Lack of genetic diversity and regional genetic differentiation suggests that present management strategies for the commercially important softshell clam are unlikely to have a significant impact on the regional distribution of genetic variation, although the possibility of disrupting locally adapted stocks cannot be excluded.     

Genetic variation in Lumnitzera racemosa, a mangrove species from the Indo-West Pacific

The genetic structure of 18 populations of Lumnitzera racemosa from the Indo-West Pacific, including South China, Malay Peninsula, Sri Lanka, and North Australia, was assessed by inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. Our results showed a relatively high level of genetic variation at the species level (P = 87.04%, H_e = 0.260). The value of G_st was 0.642, suggesting significant genetic differentiation among populations. At the population level, however, genetic diversity was low (P = 32.17%, H_e = 0.097). When populations were grouped according to geographic regions, i.e., South China Sea, the East Indian Ocean, and North Australia, it was inferred from AMOVA that more than half the total variation (55.37%) was accounted for by differentiation between regions. A UPGMA dendrogram based on genetic distance also revealed a deep split between populations from these regions, indicating that Malay Peninsula and the Indonesia archipelago may play an important part on the genetic differentiation in L. racemosa. The high degree of population differentiation between regions and low genetic variation within populations recorded here highlights the need for appropriate conservation measures for this species, both in terms of incorporating further populations into protected areas, and the restoration strategies for separate regions.     

Characteristic features of ecology of the Pacific saury Cololabis saira (Scomberesocidae, Beloniformes) in open waters and in the northeast Pacific ocean

The results of long-term studies of the spatial distribution, size composition, and spawning intensity of the Pacific saury Cololabis saira in open waters of the North Pacific Ocean and the northeastern part of the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of North America are presented. In the open waters of the Pacific Ocean, saury forms aggregations early in summer; intraseasonal changes in their distribution pattern have been identified. Migrations of Pacific saury stocks in the northeastern part of the Pacific Ocean were considered, and assumptions about their causes were made. The differences in the size composition of Pacific saury in different parts of the range are associated with the peculiarities of occurrence of favorable conditions for the formation of aggregations. Intensive spawning of Pacific saury in the northeastern part of the Pacific Ocean is observed in winter and spring, and that in open waters is observed in summer. The distribution of the early progeny of Pacific saury is associated with the systems of currents; its findings in the extreme northern regions in the 1980s are explained.