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Fine-scale genetic structure of rabbitfish, Siganus fuscescens, in Penghu Archipelago following a mass mortality event caused by extreme cold winter weather

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Abstract

In the winter of 2007–2008, a large number of fish were killed by chilling damage that occurred in the Pescadores (Penghu Archipelago). Such extreme weather events can cause rapid population changes, which provide an opportunity to understand the possible restoration mechanism of coral reef fishes in the Pescadores. The fine-scale genetic structure of the rabbitfish, Siganus fuscescens (Siganidae), was assessed using amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis. Significant genetic differences (lower gene flow) were observed between rabbitfish from the northern and southern parts of the Pescadores (Chenkong-Soukang, Φ ST 0.075, P < 0.001) but not between those from the northern Pescadores and northeastern Taiwan (Chenkong-Keelung, Φ ST 0.03, P > 0.02). The northern Pescadores and northeastern Taiwan have been shown to be relatively connected. The population structure of rabbitfish has complemented and helped support fish population recovery after several chilling events in the Pescadores.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan 20224.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, 20224, Taiwan

    Te-Hua Hsu & Jin-Chywan Gwo

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  1. Te-Hua Hsu
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  2. Jin-Chywan Gwo
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Correspondence to Jin-Chywan Gwo.

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Te-Hua Hsu and Jin-Chywan Gwo declare that they have no conflict of interest with the contents of the manuscript.

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This study was conducted in accordance with all Taiwan laws. Neither specific permits were required for the described field studies nor were specific permissions required for the locations/activities described in this study. The location is not privately owned or protected in any way. The field studies did not involve endangered or protected species.

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Hsu, TH., Gwo, JC. Fine-scale genetic structure of rabbitfish, Siganus fuscescens, in Penghu Archipelago following a mass mortality event caused by extreme cold winter weather. Genes Genom 39, 645–652 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13258-017-0530-y

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