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A peek into the population genetics of white teatfish (Holothuria fuscogilva) of Kenya’s south coast

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Abstract

Background

The white teatfish, Holothuria fuscogilva, is widely distributed in coastal areas, including waters around coral reefs and seagrasses in the Indo-Pacific. In Kenya, the species is distributed in shallow reefs with higher landings reported from the Vanga-Shimoni-Gazi seascape on the Kenyan south coast. Despite its high exploitation for export and its vulnerable and endangered statuses under IUCN and CITES respectively, Kenya’s H. fuscogilva populations and how they may have been impacted by the fishing pressure have not been studied.

Methods

We estimated the genetic diversity and structure of H. fuscogilva population conveniently sampled from three sites in Kenyan south coast using the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences. We recorded 30 haplotypes with 43 polymorphic sites across the population. Furthermore, we estimated an overall high haplotype diversity and low nucleotide diversity of estimates of h = 0.970 ± 0.013 and π = 0.010 ± 0.001 respectively.

Conclusions

These preliminary findings suggest several population outcomes, among them a fit population, which require confirming with more comprehensive study to inform strategies for the sustainable exploitation and management of the species.

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Data availability

All the COI sequences used in the present study are deposited to the GenBank with accession numbers PP062748-PP062793.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) fisheries officers, sea cucumber traders, fishermen and BMU officials of Shimoni, Gazi and Vanga who assisted in acquiring sea cucumber samples. We would also like to appreciate all working groups of the Pwani University Biosciences Research Center (PUBReC) and KMFRI molecular lab staff for assisting on molecular work in the lab.

Funding

This work was supported by Western Indian Ocean Marine Association (WIOMSA) under MARG I (Grant number MARGI-2020-C09).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Pwani University, P.O. Box 195-80108, Kilifi, Kenya

    Diana Karan, Bernerd Fulanda & Sammy Wambua

  2. Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, P.O Box 81651-80100, Mombasa, Kenya

    Thomas Mkare

  3. Research and Conservation Support Society (RECOURSE), P.O. Box 195-80100, Kilifi, Kenya

    Sammy Wambua

  4. School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

    Sammy Wambua

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  1. Diana Karan
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Contributions

The research plan was conceived by Diana Karan. Field sampling was done by Diana Karan with help from Thomas Mkare and Bernerd Fulanda. Diana Karan conducted all lab experiments with supervision from Thomas Mkare and Sammy Wambua. Data analyses was performed by Diana Karan with guidance from Thomas Mkare and Sammy Wambua. Diana Karan drafted the manuscript. Bernerd Fulanda, Thomas Mkare and Sammy Wambua supervised the preparation of the draft. Bernerd Fulanda, Thomas Mkare and Sammy Wambua helped with writing, proofreading, and editing the final version of the manuscript. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.

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Correspondence to Diana Karan.

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Ethical approval

This study involved sampling sea cucumber and was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Review Committee Board from Pwani University with sampling carried out under Kenya Wildlife Service permit. The samples used in this study were acquired from the fishermen and were part of their catch about to be processed thus were mostly dead or semi-dead. All procedures performed in this study were in accordance with the ethical standards as guided by the institutional research committee and accorded permit.

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Karan, D., Fulanda, B., Mkare, T. et al. A peek into the population genetics of white teatfish (Holothuria fuscogilva) of Kenya’s south coast. Mol Biol Rep 51, 397 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-024-09310-1

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