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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Mar. Sci.
Sec. Marine Evolutionary Biology, Biogeography and Species Diversity
Volume 11 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fmars.2024.1450142

Ecological Connectivity of the Qiongzhou Strait: a case form Orangefin Ponyfish (Photopectoralis bindus) Haplotype Diversity and Genetic Structure

Provisionally accepted
Lei Xu Lei Xu 1*Jinxia Zhang Jinxia Zhang 1Xuehui Wang Xuehui Wang 1Qinghua Chen Qinghua Chen 2Quehui Tang Quehui Tang 1Lianggen Wang Lianggen Wang 1Jiajia Ning Jiajia Ning 1Yafang Li Yafang Li 1Shuangshuang Liu Shuangshuang Liu 1Delian Huang Delian Huang 1Feiyan Du Feiyan Du 1*
  • 1 South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences (CAFS), Guangzhou, China
  • 2 South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Grasping the genetic structure of marine fish populations is vital for comprehending species connectivity patterns and determining the appropriate spatiotemporal scales for conservation management strategies. Here, we analyzed the population genetics of the Orangefin Ponyfish (Photopectoralis bindus Valenciennes, 1835) by examining a portion of the gene coding for the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I. The aim was to evaluate the haplotype pattern, genetic structure, demographic history, as well as the influence of ecological connectivity through the Qiongzhou Strait on the distribution patterns of this species in the northern South China Sea and the Beibu Gulf.In total, 257 specimens yielded only 13 haplotypes, with the predominant haplotype present at all sampling locations. The analysis revealed a "star-like" haplotype pattern, indicating low levels of both haplotype and nucleotide diversity. Additionally, a small but significant genetic structure was observed between the coastal regions flanking the Leizhou Peninsula. These patterns in the haplotype network and genetic structure may be significantly influenced by contemporary currents, particularly through the connectivity of the Qiongzhou Strait. Tajima's D and Fu's Fs demonstrated pronouncedly negative values, along with a unimodal mismatch distribution, suggested a recent demographic expansion of Photopectoralis bindus during the late Pleistocene, likely influenced by fluctuations in sea levels.

    Keywords: haplotype pattern, Genetic structure, Leizhou Peninsula, The South China Sea, historical demography

    Received: 17 Jun 2024; Accepted: 26 Aug 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Xu, Zhang, Wang, Chen, Tang, Wang, Ning, Li, Liu, Huang and Du. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Lei Xu, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences (CAFS), Guangzhou, China
    Feiyan Du, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences (CAFS), Guangzhou, China

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