Conectividade genética de Panulirus echinatus Smith, 1869 (DECAPODA: PALINURIDAE) nas Ilhas Oceânicas do Atlântico

Abstract

This is the first Panulirus echinatus Smith, 1869 population genetic study. Our survey has developed and characterized 18 species-specific polymorphic microsatellites markers, useful for subsequent genotypes analysis of 152 individuals. The results of AMOVA, Structure, PCoA indicate a highly significant genetic structure between the North and South Atlantic populations (global FST = 0.06; global FST recoded = 0.46; p = 0.00). The Barrier algorithm also indicated a strong separation between North to South with a 83 bootstrap and South to North with 71 bootstrap. We propose that the Equatorial Circulation system represents a biophysical barrier that effectively limits gene flow among Atlantic subtropical gyre systems as well as it was described to other species. Other physical and ecological barriers, as Mid- Atlantic Ridge per se and the distance between the eastern and western Atlantic sides, water masses differences, rivers outflow and other aspects, also influence the larval dispersal and modulate this species distribution. The populations of Cape Verde and the Canaries showed the lowest variability parameters compared to the southern populations analyzed. Our results have implications for fisheries management in the Atlantic Ocean because they reveal two distinct genetic groups of P. echinatus, which require to be managed separately. Canary population is overfished and environmental adversities as the volcanic eruptions contribute to the reduction in this population abundance. In addition, P. echinatus does not appear to be well adapted to this subtropical upwelling environment. Therefore, further researches on seasonal variations in local currents, larval ecology and species-specific physiological tolerances will clarify important aspects of larval transport, puerulus settlement and recruitment rates. These aspects will aid in the acquisition of a more complete view on the connectivity of P. echinatus populations and, in this way, will allow a better status evaluation, management and conservation of stocks.