AUTHOR=Kise Hiroki , Iguchi Akira , Saito Naoki , Yoshioka Yuki , Uda Koji , Suzuki Tomohiko , Nagano Atsushi J. , Suzuki Atsushi , Iwasaki Nozomu
TITLE=Genetic population structure of the precious coral Corallium japonicum in the Northwest Pacific
JOURNAL=Frontiers in Marine Science
VOLUME=10
YEAR=2023
URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1052033
DOI=10.3389/fmars.2023.1052033
ISSN=2296-7745
ABSTRACT=
Population sizes of the Japanese red coral Corallium japonicum have been severely affected by poaching and overfishing. Although genetic structure and connectivity patterns are considered important parameters for conservation strategies, there are few studies focusing on the population genetics of C. japonicum in the Northwest Pacific. We examined the genetic population structure of C. japonicum, in the Northwest Pacific. We used restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq), which can be used to identify genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs), to reveal detailed within-species genetic variations. Using the variable SNP loci identified from this analysis, we successfully evaluated the population-level genetic diversity and patterns of gene flow among multiple populations of C. japonicum around Japan. The results of genetic analysis basically showed that gene flow is widely maintained in the geographic range examined in this study, but the analysis in combination with larval dispersal simulations revealed several populations that were genetically distinct from the other populations, suggesting geographically limited gene flows. The information obtained from this study will be useful for the design of effective management schemes for C. japonicum, which is under threat from overfishing.