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Quintanilla JM, Borrego-Santos R, Malca E, Swalethorp R, Landry MR, Gerard T, Lamkin J, García A, Laiz-Carrión R. Maternal Effects and Trophodynamics Drive Interannual Larval Growth Variability of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna ( Thunnus thynnus) from the Gulf of Mexico. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1319. [PMID: 38731323 PMCID: PMC11083439 DOI: 10.3390/ani14091319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Two cohorts of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) larvae were sampled in 2017 and 2018 during the peak of spawning in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). We examined environmental variables, daily growth, otolith biometry and stable isotopes and found that the GOM18 cohort grew at faster rates, with larger and wider otoliths. Inter and intra-population analyses (deficient vs. optimal growth groups) were carried out for pre- and post-flexion developmental stages to determine maternal and trophodynamic influences on larval growth variability based on larval isotopic signatures, trophic niche sizes and their overlaps. For the pre-flexion stages in both years, the optimal growth groups had significantly lower δ15N, implying a direct relationship between growth potential and maternal inheritance. Optimal growth groups and stages for both years showed lower C:N ratios, reflecting a greater energy investment in growth. The results of this study illustrate the interannual transgenerational trophic plasticity of a spawning stock and its linkages to growth potential of their offsprings in the GOM.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M. Quintanilla
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, 29640 Fuengirola, Spain; (R.B.-S.); (A.G.); (R.L.-C.)
| | - Ricardo Borrego-Santos
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, 29640 Fuengirola, Spain; (R.B.-S.); (A.G.); (R.L.-C.)
- Departamento de Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - Estrella Malca
- Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA;
- NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Miami, FL 33149, USA; (T.G.); (J.L.)
| | - Rasmus Swalethorp
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (R.S.); (M.R.L.)
| | - Michael R. Landry
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (R.S.); (M.R.L.)
| | - Trika Gerard
- NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Miami, FL 33149, USA; (T.G.); (J.L.)
| | - John Lamkin
- NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Miami, FL 33149, USA; (T.G.); (J.L.)
| | - Alberto García
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, 29640 Fuengirola, Spain; (R.B.-S.); (A.G.); (R.L.-C.)
| | - Raúl Laiz-Carrión
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, 29640 Fuengirola, Spain; (R.B.-S.); (A.G.); (R.L.-C.)
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Díaz-Arce N, Gagnaire PA, Richardson DE, Walter JF, Arnaud-Haond S, Fromentin JM, Brophy D, Lutcavage M, Addis P, Alemany F, Allman R, Deguara S, Fraile I, Goñi N, Hanke AR, Karakulak FS, Pacicco A, Quattro JM, Rooker JR, Arrizabalaga H, Rodríguez-Ezpeleta N. Unidirectional trans-Atlantic gene flow and a mixed spawning area shape the genetic connectivity of Atlantic bluefin tuna. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17188. [PMID: 37921120 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
The commercially important Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus), a large migratory fish, has experienced notable recovery aided by accurate resource assessment and effective fisheries management efforts. Traditionally, this species has been perceived as consisting of eastern and western populations, spawning respectively in the Mediterranean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, with mixing occurring throughout the Atlantic. However, recent studies have challenged this assumption by revealing weak genetic differentiation and identifying a previously unknown spawning ground in the Slope Sea used by Atlantic bluefin tuna of uncertain origin. To further understand the current and past population structure and connectivity of Atlantic bluefin tuna, we have assembled a unique dataset including thousands of genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 500 larvae, young of the year and spawning adult samples covering the three spawning grounds and including individuals of other Thunnus species. Our analyses support two weakly differentiated but demographically connected ancestral populations that interbreed in the Slope Sea. Moreover, we also identified signatures of introgression from albacore (Thunnus alalunga) into the Atlantic bluefin tuna genome, exhibiting varied frequencies across spawning areas, indicating strong gene flow from the Mediterranean Sea towards the Slope Sea. We hypothesize that the observed genetic differentiation may be attributed to increased gene flow caused by a recent intensification of westward migration by the eastern population, which could have implications for the genetic diversity and conservation of western populations. Future conservation efforts should consider these findings to address potential genetic homogenization in the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Díaz-Arce
- AZTI, Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Sukarrieta, Spain
| | | | - David E Richardson
- Northeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Narragansett, Rhode Island, USA
| | - John F Walter
- Southeast Fisheries Sciences Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Miami, Florida, USA
| | | | | | - Deirdre Brophy
- Marine and Freshwater Research Center, Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Galway City, Ireland
| | - Molly Lutcavage
- Large Pelagics Research Center, School for the Environment, University of Massachusetts Boston, Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Piero Addis
- Department of Environmental and Life Science, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Francisco Alemany
- International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, GBYP, Madrid, Spain
| | - Robert Allman
- National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Panama City Laboratory, Panama City, Florida, USA
| | | | - Igaratza Fraile
- AZTI, Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Pasaia, Spain
| | - Nicolas Goñi
- AZTI, Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Pasaia, Spain
| | - Alex R Hanke
- St Andrews Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada
| | | | - Ashley Pacicco
- Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Joseph M Quattro
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Jay R Rooker
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Haritz Arrizabalaga
- AZTI, Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Pasaia, Spain
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Quintanilla JM, Malca E, Lamkin J, García A, Laiz-Carrión R. Evidence of isotopic maternal transmission influence on bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) larval growth. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 190:106112. [PMID: 37523845 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Pre-flexion stages of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) larvae were collected in 2014 during the peak of spawning in the two main spawning areas: Gulf of Mexico (GOM) and Mediterranean Sea (MED). We examined daily growth, otolith biometry, and stable isotopes and found that the GOM grew at a faster rate, had larger otoliths, wider daily increments, and significantly lower values of δ15N when compared to the MED. In addition, an intra-population comparative analysis between slow- and fast-growing individuals (deficient vs. optimal growth groups, respectively) showed that optimal growth groups had significantly lower δ15N within each spawning area, implying a direct relationship between growth potential, development, and maternal transmission of isotopic signatures. A third pre-flexion larval group that was aquaculture-reared also exhibited the same pattern to the wild larval groups. In addition, for the first time, we estimated the maternal trophic niches using models developed with field-captured pre-flexion larvae. The estimated maternal trophic niches for the GOM were narrower than the MED, implying differences in the maternal trophodynamics from each nursery area. Overall, the inter-population (GOM vs. MED) and intra-population growth groups (deficient vs. optimal) grew faster and had narrower maternal niches. This study shows the advantages that larval SIA research can aid in the understanding of the trophodynamics of their breeders by examining the trophic relationship of a spawning stock jointly with the development of growth potential in offspring within the same breeding season.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M Quintanilla
- Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Fuengirola, Málaga, Spain.
| | - Estrella Malca
- Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA; Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Miami, FL, USA
| | - John Lamkin
- Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Alberto García
- Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Fuengirola, Málaga, Spain
| | - Raúl Laiz-Carrión
- Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Fuengirola, Málaga, Spain
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