Genetic Demography of the Blue and Red Shrimp, Aristeus antennatus: A Female-Based Case Study Integrating Multilocus Genotyping and Morphometric Data

Abstract

In this study, we quantified the three key biological processes, growth, recruitment, and dispersal pattern, which are necessary for a better understanding of the population dynamics of the blue and red shrimp Aristeus antennatus. This marine exploited crustacean shows sex-related distribution along the water column, being females predominate in the middle slope. The present study attempts to fill the existing gap in the females’ genetic demography, as scarce knowledge is available despite being the most abundant sex in catches. We analyzed morphometric data and genotyped 12 microsatellite loci in 655 A. antennatus females collected in two consecutive seasons, winter and summer 2016, at the main Mediterranean fishing ground as a model. Almost every female in summer was inseminated. Five modal groups were observed in both seasons, from 0+ to 4+ in winter and from 1+ to 5+ in summer. Commercial-sized sorting based on fishermen’s experience resulted in a moderate-to-high assertive method concerning cohort determination. Genetic data pointed out females’ horizontal movement between neighboring fishing grounds, explaining the low genetic divergence detected among western Mediterranean grounds. Our results could represent critical information for the future implementation of management measures to ensure long-time conservation of the A. antennatus populations.

Limited spatiotemporal larval mixing of the Norway lobster from no‐take marine protected areas in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea

“…More specifically, several metrics to quantify connectivity can be extracted from larval transport modelling studies, including dispersal or retention (Jonsson et al, 2020; Lu et al, 2023), network theory indicators (Assis et al, 2021; Roberts et al, 2021) and other specific features related to the study objectives (e.g., ‘rescue potential’ of a MPA; Roberts et al, 2021). These methods are used to suggest appropriate management measures, for example, for sustainable fisheries (Abras et al, 2022), and to evaluate MPAs connectivity (e.g., le Port et al, 2017). Demographic mixing, that is, spatial co‐occurrence of individuals from different origins, can also be estimated for connectivity assessments (D'Aloia & Neubert, 2018; Wright et al, 2019).…”