Sex change and the genetic structure of marine fish populations

Chopelet, J; Waples, RS; Mariani, S

Abstract

The interaction between environmental forces and dispersal characteristics is largely
responsible for the patterns of population structure in marine fish. Yet, crucial gaps in
knowledge on life-histories and the relative contributions of numerous environmental
factors still hinder a thorough understanding of marine population connectivity. One
life-history trait so far overlooked by most fish population geneticists is sequential
hermaphroditism, whereby individuals first mature as one sex and later in life reverse
into the other sex. Population genetic theory predicts that sex-changing fish will
present a higher potential for more spatially structured populations than gonochoristic
species, as a result of their naturally skewed sex ratio, which is expected to reduce
effective population size and hence increase genetic drift. We gathered published data
on genetic population structure in marine fish, as summarized by the popular FST
index, and – after controlling for several potentially confounding factors – we tested the
hypothesis that sex-changing species are more genetically structured than gonochoristic
ones. Although we found no evidence to support the theoretical expectations,
our results suggest new working hypotheses that can stimulate new research avenues
at the intersection between physiology, genetics and fisheries science.

Citation

Chopelet, J., Waples, R., & Mariani, S. (2009). Sex change and the genetic structure of marine fish populations. Fish and Fisheries, 10(3), 329-343. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-2979.2009.00329.x

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Apr 27, 2009
• Deposit Date: Apr 26, 2016
• Journal: Fish and Fisheries
• Print ISSN: 1467-2960
• Electronic ISSN: 1467-2979
• Publisher: Wiley
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 329-343
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-2979.2009.00329.x
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-2979.2009.00329.x
• Related Public URLs: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1467-2979
• Additional Information: Funders : Science Foundation Ireland