Genetic connectivity of lionfish (Pterois volitans) in marine protected areas of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.

ABSTRACT: Lionfish (Pterois volitans) have rapidly invaded the tropical Atlantic and spread across the wider Caribbean in a relatively short period of time. Because of its high invasion capacity, we used it as a model to identify the connectivity among nine marine protected areas (MPAs) situated in four countries in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. This study provides evidence of local genetic differentiation of P. volitans in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. A total of 475 lionfish samples were characterized with 12 microsatellites, with 6-20 alleles per locus. Departures from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) were found in 10 of the 12 loci, all caused by heterozygous excess. Moderate genetic differentiation was observed between Chiriviche, Venezuela and Xcalak, Méxi

SUBMITTER: Guzman-Mendez IA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7244795 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature