Connectivity and population structure of albacore tuna across southeast Atlantic and southwest Indian Oceans inferred from multidisciplinary methodology

Type Article
Date 2020-09
Language English
Author(s) Nikolic Natacha1, 2, 3, Montes Iratxe4, Lalire Maxime5, Puech Alexis1, Bodin Nathalie6, 11, 12, Arnaud-Haond SophieORCID7, Kerwath Sven8, 9, Corse Emmanuel2, 13, Gaspar Philippe5, 10, Hollanda Stéphanie11, Bourjea JeromeORCID1, West Wendy8, Bonhommeau SylvainORCID1
Affiliation(s) 1 : Institut Français de Recherche pour l’Exploitation de la Mer, Délégation de La Réunion, Rue Jean Bertho, BP 60, 97 822, Le Port Cedex, La Réunion, France
2 : ARBRE, Agence de Recherche pour la Biodiversité à la Réunion, 34 avenue de la Grande Ourse, 97434, Saint-Gilles, La Réunion, France
3 : IRD, UMR MARine Biodiversity Exploitation and Conservation (MARBEC), Saint-Clotilde, La Réunion, France
4 : Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940, Leioa, Spain
5 : CLS, Sustainable Management of Marine Resources, 11 rue Hermès, 31520, Ramonville Saint-Agne, France
6 : IRD, UMR MARBEC, Fishing Port, Victoria, Seychelles
7 : IFREMER, Station de Sète, Avenue Jean Monnet, CS 30171, 34203, Sète Cedex, France
8 : Department of Environmental Affairs, Private Bag X2, Vlaeberg, 8018, South Africa
9 : Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa
10 : Mercator Ocean, 10 rue Hermès, 31520, Ramonville Saint-Agne, France
11 : Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA), Fishing Port, Victoria, Seychelles
12 : Sustainable Ocean Seychelles (SOS), BeauBelle, Mahe, Seychelles
13 : Centre Universitaire de Formation et de Recherche de Mayotte, MARBEC, 8 rue de l′Université BP53, 97660, Dembeni, Mayotte
Source Scientific Reports (2045-2322) (Springer Science and Business Media LLC), 2020-09 , Vol. 10 , N. 1 , P. 15657 (17p.)
DOI 10.1038/s41598-020-72369-w
WOS© Times Cited 12
Abstract

Albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) is an important target of tuna fisheries in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The commercial catch of albacore is the highest globally among all temperate tuna species, contributing around 6% in weight to global tuna catches over the last decade. The accurate assessment and management of this heavily exploited resource requires a robust understanding of the species’ biology and of the pattern of connectivity among oceanic regions, yet Indian Ocean albacore population dynamics remain poorly understood and its level of connectivity with the Atlantic Ocean population is uncertain. We analysed morphometrics and genetics of albacore (n = 1,874) in the southwest Indian (SWIO) and southeast Atlantic (SEAO) Oceans to investigate the connectivity and population structure. Furthermore, we examined the species’ dispersal potential by modelling particle drift through major oceanographic features. Males appear larger than females, except in South African waters, yet the length–weight relationship only showed significant male–female difference in one region (east of Madagascar and Reunion waters). The present study produced a genetic differentiation between the southeast Atlantic and southwest Indian Oceans, supporting their demographic independence. The particle drift models suggested dispersal potential of early life stages from SWIO to SEAO and adult or sub-adult migration from SEAO to SWIO.

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Nikolic Natacha, Montes Iratxe, Lalire Maxime, Puech Alexis, Bodin Nathalie, Arnaud-Haond Sophie, Kerwath Sven, Corse Emmanuel, Gaspar Philippe, Hollanda Stéphanie, Bourjea Jerome, West Wendy, Bonhommeau Sylvain (2020). Connectivity and population structure of albacore tuna across southeast Atlantic and southwest Indian Oceans inferred from multidisciplinary methodology. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 15657 (17p.). Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-72369-w , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00653/76483/