Genome-wide analysis clarifies the population genetic structure of wild gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata)

• Published in: PLOS ONE
• Main Authors: Maroso, Francesco, Gkagkavouzis, Konstantinos, De Innocentiis, Sabina, Hillen, Jasmien, Prado, Fernanda do, Karaiskou, Nikoleta, Taggart, John Bernard, Carr, Adrian, Nielsen, Einar, Triantafyllidis, Alexandros, Bargelloni, Luca, Aquatrace Consortium
• Other Authors: Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Public Library Science 2021
• Subjects: North East Atlantic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11449/210140; https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0236230

7th Framework Programme for research (FP7) under Knowledge-Based Bio-Economy -KBBE, Theme 2: Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnologies Project PhD scholarship of Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation (GR) 7th Framework Programme for research (FP7) under Knowledge-Based Bio-Economy -KBBE, Theme 2: Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnologies Project: 311920 Gilthead sea bream is an important target for both recreational and commercial fishing in Europe, where it is also one of the most important cultured fish. Its distribution ranges from the Mediterranean to the African and European coasts of the North-East Atlantic. Until now, the population genetic structure of this species in the wild has largely been studied using microsatellite DNA markers, with minimal genetic differentiation being detected. In this geographically widespread study, 958 wild gilthead sea bream from 23 locations within the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean were genotyped at 1159 genome-wide SNP markers by RAD sequencing. Outlier analyses identified 18 loci potentially under selection. Neutral marker analyses identified weak subdivision into three genetic clusters: Atlantic, West, and East Mediterranean. The latter group could be further subdivided into an Ionian/Adriatic and an Aegean group using the outlier markers alone. Seascape analysis suggested that this differentiation was mainly due to difference in salinity, this being also supported by preliminary genomic functional analysis. These results are of fundamental importance for the development of proper management of this species in the wild and are a first step toward the study of the potential genetic impact of the sea bream aquaculture industry.