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

• Published in: PLOS ONE
• Main Authors: Urtzi Laconcha, Mikel Iriondo, Haritz Arrizabalaga, Carmen Manzano, Pablo Markaide, Iratxe Montes, Iratxe Zarraonaindia, Igor Velado, Eider Bilbao, Nicolas Goñi, Josu Santiago, Andrés Domingo, Saadet Karakulak, Işık Oray, Andone Estonba
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2015
• Subjects: Medicine; R; Science; Q; Indian; Pacific; North Atlantic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0128247; https://doaj.org/article/aa45f6a8c3ea40bbbcb34dff5b2b5d60

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.