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Ocean currents and the population genetic signature of fish migrations
Citation
Krueck, NC and Treml, EA and Innes, DJ and Ovenden, JR, Ocean currents and the population genetic signature of fish migrations, Ecology, 101, (3) Article e02967. ISSN 0012-9658 (2020) [Refereed Article]
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DOI: doi:10.1002/ecy.2967
Abstract
Animal migrations are a fascinating and global phenomenon, yet they are often difficult to study and sometimes poorly understood. Here, we build on classic ecological theory by hypothesizing that some enigmatic spawning migrations across coastal marine habitats can be inferred from the population genetic signature of larval dispersal by ocean currents. We test this assumption by integrating spatially realistic simulations of alternative spawning migration routes, associated patterns of larval dispersal, and associated variation in the population genetic structure of eastern Australian sea mullet (Mugil cephalus). We then use simulation results to assess the implications of alternative spawning destinations for larval replenishment, and we contrast simulated against measured population genetic variation. Both analyses suggest that the spawning migrations of M. cephalus in eastern Australia are likely to be localized (approximately 100 km along the shore), and that spawning is likely to occur in inshore waters. Our conclusions are supported by multiple lines of evidence available through independent studies, but they challenge the more traditional assumption of a single, long‐distance migration event with subsequent offshore spawning in the East Australian Current. More generally, our study operationalizes classic theory on the relationship between fish migrations, ocean currents, and reproductive success. However, rather than confirming the traditionally assumed adaptation of migratory behavior to dominant ocean current flow, our findings support the concept of a genetically measurable link between fish migrations and local oceanographic conditions, specifically water temperature and coastal retention of larvae. We believe that future studies using similar approaches for high resolution and spatially realistic ecological–genetic scenario testing can help rapidly advance our understanding of key ecological processes in many other marine species.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | fish migration, connectivity, contranatant theory, FST larval dispersal, SNPs, spawning migrations |
Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
Research Group: | Ecology |
Research Field: | Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) |
Objective Division: | Animal Production and Animal Primary Products |
Objective Group: | Fisheries - wild caught |
Objective Field: | Fisheries - wild caught not elsewhere classified |
UTAS Author: | Krueck, NC (Dr Nils Krueck) |
ID Code: | 142906 |
Year Published: | 2020 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 1 |
Deposited By: | Sustainable Marine Research Collaboration |
Deposited On: | 2021-02-16 |
Last Modified: | 2021-03-01 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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