Genetic Diversity, Connectivity and Demographic History of the Small Red Scorpionfish <i>Scorpaena notata</i> at a Small Scale in the Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean)
This study analyses for the first time the genetic diversity, connectivity, and evolutionary dynamics of the small red scorpionfish (<i>Scorpaena notata</i>) in the Balearic Islands, using two mitochondrial DNA markers: Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and the Control Region (CR). Nu...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Joan Riera Adriana Tudurí Beatriz Guijarro Francesc Ordines Antònia Picornell Sergio Ramírez-Amaro |
| author_facet | Joan Riera Adriana Tudurí Beatriz Guijarro Francesc Ordines Antònia Picornell Sergio Ramírez-Amaro |
| author_sort | Joan Riera |
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| description | This study analyses for the first time the genetic diversity, connectivity, and evolutionary dynamics of the small red scorpionfish (<i>Scorpaena notata</i>) in the Balearic Islands, using two mitochondrial DNA markers: Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and the Control Region (CR). Nucleotide diversity of the COI gene was found to be low compared to other commercial fish species, suggesting that fishing may be impacting the population despite being a by-catch species. In contrast, the CR showed higher genetic variability. Demographic history analyses suggest that <i>S. notata</i> underwent a population expansion during the Pleistocene, possibly driven by sea-level changes. Genetic structure analyses (F<sub>st</sub> and AMOVA) indicated genetic homogeneity and high connectivity among the Balearic Islands’ population, likely facilitated by its passive dispersion via pelagic eggs and larvae and the oceanographic conditions of the region. Our results suggest that the entire Balearic Islands could be considered as a unique Management Unit, although its potential relation to other nearby areas, such as the Iberian Peninsula, along with the analysis of additional genetic markers, should be addressed in future studies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c09f96bba230458d8948b84e38d68e6e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj-art-c09f96bba230458d8948b84e38d68e6e2025-08-20T03:27:15ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182025-06-0117640510.3390/d17060405Genetic Diversity, Connectivity and Demographic History of the Small Red Scorpionfish <i>Scorpaena notata</i> at a Small Scale in the Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean)Joan Riera0Adriana Tudurí1Beatriz Guijarro2Francesc Ordines3Antònia Picornell4Sergio Ramírez-Amaro5Grup de Genètica Humana i Evolutiva (HEGEN-IUNICS), Área de Genètica, Departament de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears, 07122 Palma, SpainGrup de Genètica Humana i Evolutiva (HEGEN-IUNICS), Área de Genètica, Departament de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears, 07122 Palma, SpainCentre Oceanogràfic de les Balears (COB-IEO), CSIC, Moll de Ponent s/n, 07015 Palma, SpainCentre Oceanogràfic de les Balears (COB-IEO), CSIC, Moll de Ponent s/n, 07015 Palma, SpainGrup de Genètica Humana i Evolutiva (HEGEN-IUNICS), Área de Genètica, Departament de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears, 07122 Palma, SpainGrup de Genètica Humana i Evolutiva (HEGEN-IUNICS), Área de Genètica, Departament de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears, 07122 Palma, SpainThis study analyses for the first time the genetic diversity, connectivity, and evolutionary dynamics of the small red scorpionfish (<i>Scorpaena notata</i>) in the Balearic Islands, using two mitochondrial DNA markers: Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and the Control Region (CR). Nucleotide diversity of the COI gene was found to be low compared to other commercial fish species, suggesting that fishing may be impacting the population despite being a by-catch species. In contrast, the CR showed higher genetic variability. Demographic history analyses suggest that <i>S. notata</i> underwent a population expansion during the Pleistocene, possibly driven by sea-level changes. Genetic structure analyses (F<sub>st</sub> and AMOVA) indicated genetic homogeneity and high connectivity among the Balearic Islands’ population, likely facilitated by its passive dispersion via pelagic eggs and larvae and the oceanographic conditions of the region. Our results suggest that the entire Balearic Islands could be considered as a unique Management Unit, although its potential relation to other nearby areas, such as the Iberian Peninsula, along with the analysis of additional genetic markers, should be addressed in future studies.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/6/405Scorpaenidaeby-catch speciesmtDNACytochrome C oxidase IControl Regionnucleotide diversity |
| spellingShingle | Joan Riera Adriana Tudurí Beatriz Guijarro Francesc Ordines Antònia Picornell Sergio Ramírez-Amaro Genetic Diversity, Connectivity and Demographic History of the Small Red Scorpionfish <i>Scorpaena notata</i> at a Small Scale in the Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean) Diversity Scorpaenidae by-catch species mtDNA Cytochrome C oxidase I Control Region nucleotide diversity |
| title | Genetic Diversity, Connectivity and Demographic History of the Small Red Scorpionfish <i>Scorpaena notata</i> at a Small Scale in the Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean) |
| title_full | Genetic Diversity, Connectivity and Demographic History of the Small Red Scorpionfish <i>Scorpaena notata</i> at a Small Scale in the Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean) |
| title_fullStr | Genetic Diversity, Connectivity and Demographic History of the Small Red Scorpionfish <i>Scorpaena notata</i> at a Small Scale in the Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic Diversity, Connectivity and Demographic History of the Small Red Scorpionfish <i>Scorpaena notata</i> at a Small Scale in the Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean) |
| title_short | Genetic Diversity, Connectivity and Demographic History of the Small Red Scorpionfish <i>Scorpaena notata</i> at a Small Scale in the Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean) |
| title_sort | genetic diversity connectivity and demographic history of the small red scorpionfish i scorpaena notata i at a small scale in the balearic islands western mediterranean |
| topic | Scorpaenidae by-catch species mtDNA Cytochrome C oxidase I Control Region nucleotide diversity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/6/405 |
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