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Molecular genetic variation in tarpon (Megalops atlanticus Valenciennes) in the northern Atlantic Ocean

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Abstract

The tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) is a highly valued game fish and occasional food fish in the eastern and western Atlantic Ocean. Tarpon have a high capacity for dispersal, but some regional biological differences have been reported. In this study we used two molecular genetic techniques—protein electrophoresis of nuclear DNA loci, and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)—to assess this species’ population genetic structure in the eastern (coastal waters off Gabon and Sierra Leone, Africa) and western (coastal waters off Florida, Caribbean Sea) Atlantic Ocean north of the equator. Genetic differentiation was observed between tarpon from Africa and tarpon from the western Atlantic Ocean. A unique allele and haplotype, significant differences in allozyme allele and mtDNA haplotype frequencies between the African and western Atlantic samples, and significant FST analyses suggest that levels of gene flow between tarpon from these two regions is low. Among the western Atlantic Ocean collections, genetic diversity values and allele and haplotype frequencies were similar. AMOVA analyses also showed a degree of genetic relatedness among most of the western Atlantic Ocean collections: however, some significant population structuring was detected in the allozyme data. A regional jackknifed FST analysis indicated the distinction of the Costa Rica population from the other western Atlantic populations and, in pairwise analyses, FST values tended to be higher (i.e., genetic relatedness was lower) when the Costa Rican sample was paired with any of the other western Atlantic samples. These data suggest that Costa Rican tarpon could be partially isolated from other western Atlantic tarpon populations. Ultimately, international cooperation will be essential in the management of this species in both the eastern and western Atlantic Ocean.

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Acknowledgements

Many people from several countries assisted us with the collection of samples; we would particularly like to recognize R. Bishop. We are indebted to all those who helped, and dedicate this manuscript to them. We also thank W. Arnold, R. McBride, and several anonymous reviewers for reviewing the manuscript; the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute editorial staff for editorial assistance; and L. French for producing the map of collection locations. This research was funded by the Department of the Interior Sportfish Restoration Fund, grants F-59 and F-69, and by the State of Florida. The performance of these experiments complied with the current laws of the United States.

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Author notes

  1. H. Cruz-Lopez

    Present address: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Non-native Fish Research Laboratory, 801 Northwest 40th Street, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA

  2. T. Orsoy

    Present address: CH2MHILL, Suite 600, 4350 West Cypress Street, Tampa, FL 33607, USA

  3. R. E. Crabtree

    Present address: Southeast Regional Office, National Marine Fisheries Service, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St. Petersburg, FL 33702, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, 100 Eighth Avenue Southeast, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA

    A. L. McMillen-Jackson, T. M. Bert, H. Cruz-Lopez, S. Seyoum, T. Orsoy & R. E. Crabtree

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  1. A. L. McMillen-Jackson
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  2. T. M. Bert
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  3. H. Cruz-Lopez
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Correspondence to A. L. McMillen-Jackson.

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Communicated by P.W. Sammarco, Chauvin

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McMillen-Jackson, A.L., Bert, T.M., Cruz-Lopez, H. et al. Molecular genetic variation in tarpon (Megalops atlanticus Valenciennes) in the northern Atlantic Ocean. Marine Biology 146, 253–261 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-004-1432-5

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