Genetic and migratory evidence for sympatric spawning of tropical Pacific eels from Vanuatu

R. Schabetsberger; F. Økland; D. Kalfatak; U. Sichrowsky; M. Tambets; Kim Aarestrup; C. Gubili; J. Sarginson; B. Boufana; R. Jehle; G. Dall’Olmo; M.J. Miller; A. Scheck; R. Kaiser; G. Quartly

doi:10.3354/meps11138

Genetic and migratory evidence for sympatric spawning of tropical Pacific eels from Vanuatu

R. Schabetsberger, F. Økland, D. Kalfatak, U. Sichrowsky, M. Tambets, Kim Aarestrup, C. Gubili, J. Sarginson, B. Boufana, R. Jehle, G. Dall’Olmo, M.J. Miller, A. Scheck, R. Kaiser, G. Quartly

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Abstract

The spawning areas of tropical anguillid eels in the South Pacific are poorly known, and more information about their life histories is needed to facilitate conservation. We genetically characterized 83 out of 84 eels caught on Gaua Island (Vanuatu) and tagged 8 eels with pop-up satellite transmitters. Based on morphological evidence, 32 eels were identified as Anguilla marmorata, 45 as A. megastoma and 7 as A. obscura. Thirteen of these eels possessed a mitochondrial DNA sequence (control region, 527 bp) or nuclear haplotype (GTH2b, 268 bp) conflicting with their species designation. These individuals also had multi-locus genotypes (6 microsatellite loci) intermediate between the species, and 9 of these eels further possessed heterozygote genotypes at species-diagnostic nuclear single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We classified these individuals as possibly admixed between A. marmorata and A. megastoma. One A. marmorata and one A. megastoma migrated 634 and 874 km, respectively, towards the border between the South Equatorial Current and the South Equatorial Counter Current. Both species descended from around 200 m depth at night to 750 m during the day. Lunar cycle affected the upper limit of migration depths of both species. The tags remained attached for 3 and 5 mo and surfaced

Original language	English
Journal	Marine Ecology Progress Series
Volume	521
Pages (from-to)	171-187
ISSN	0171-8630
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3354/meps11138
Publication status	Published - 2015

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Schabetsberger, R., Økland, F., Kalfatak, D., Sichrowsky, U., Tambets, M., Aarestrup, K., Gubili, C., Sarginson, J., Boufana, B., Jehle, R., Dall’Olmo, G., Miller, M. J., Scheck, A., Kaiser, R., & Quartly, G. (2015). Genetic and migratory evidence for sympatric spawning of tropical Pacific eels from Vanuatu. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 521, 171-187. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps11138

@article{68d448c9c1404b4cb8b2221689223474,

title = "Genetic and migratory evidence for sympatric spawning of tropical Pacific eels from Vanuatu",

abstract = "The spawning areas of tropical anguillid eels in the South Pacific are poorly known, and more information about their life histories is needed to facilitate conservation. We genetically characterized 83 out of 84 eels caught on Gaua Island (Vanuatu) and tagged 8 eels with pop-up satellite transmitters. Based on morphological evidence, 32 eels were identified as Anguilla marmorata, 45 as A. megastoma and 7 as A. obscura. Thirteen of these eels possessed a mitochondrial DNA sequence (control region, 527 bp) or nuclear haplotype (GTH2b, 268 bp) conflicting with their species designation. These individuals also had multi-locus genotypes (6 microsatellite loci) intermediate between the species, and 9 of these eels further possessed heterozygote genotypes at species-diagnostic nuclear single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We classified these individuals as possibly admixed between A. marmorata and A. megastoma. One A. marmorata and one A. megastoma migrated 634 and 874 km, respectively, towards the border between the South Equatorial Current and the South Equatorial Counter Current. Both species descended from around 200 m depth at night to 750 m during the day. Lunar cycle affected the upper limit of migration depths of both species. The tags remained attached for 3 and 5 mo and surfaced ",

author = "R. Schabetsberger and F. {\O}kland and D. Kalfatak and U. Sichrowsky and M. Tambets and Kim Aarestrup and C. Gubili and J. Sarginson and B. Boufana and R. Jehle and G. Dall{\textquoteright}Olmo and M.J. Miller and A. Scheck and R. Kaiser and G. Quartly",

year = "2015",

doi = "10.3354/meps11138",

language = "English",

volume = "521",

pages = "171--187",

journal = "Marine Ecology Progress Series",

issn = "0171-8630",

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Schabetsberger, R, Økland, F, Kalfatak, D, Sichrowsky, U, Tambets, M, Aarestrup, K, Gubili, C, Sarginson, J, Boufana, B, Jehle, R, Dall’Olmo, G, Miller, MJ, Scheck, A, Kaiser, R & Quartly, G 2015, 'Genetic and migratory evidence for sympatric spawning of tropical Pacific eels from Vanuatu', Marine Ecology Progress Series, vol. 521, pp. 171-187. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps11138

TY - JOUR

T1 - Genetic and migratory evidence for sympatric spawning of tropical Pacific eels from Vanuatu

AU - Schabetsberger, R.

AU - Økland, F.

AU - Kalfatak, D.

AU - Sichrowsky, U.

AU - Tambets, M.

AU - Aarestrup, Kim

AU - Gubili, C.

AU - Sarginson, J.

AU - Boufana, B.

AU - Jehle, R.

AU - Dall’Olmo, G.

AU - Miller, M.J.

AU - Scheck, A.

AU - Kaiser, R.

AU - Quartly, G.

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - The spawning areas of tropical anguillid eels in the South Pacific are poorly known, and more information about their life histories is needed to facilitate conservation. We genetically characterized 83 out of 84 eels caught on Gaua Island (Vanuatu) and tagged 8 eels with pop-up satellite transmitters. Based on morphological evidence, 32 eels were identified as Anguilla marmorata, 45 as A. megastoma and 7 as A. obscura. Thirteen of these eels possessed a mitochondrial DNA sequence (control region, 527 bp) or nuclear haplotype (GTH2b, 268 bp) conflicting with their species designation. These individuals also had multi-locus genotypes (6 microsatellite loci) intermediate between the species, and 9 of these eels further possessed heterozygote genotypes at species-diagnostic nuclear single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We classified these individuals as possibly admixed between A. marmorata and A. megastoma. One A. marmorata and one A. megastoma migrated 634 and 874 km, respectively, towards the border between the South Equatorial Current and the South Equatorial Counter Current. Both species descended from around 200 m depth at night to 750 m during the day. Lunar cycle affected the upper limit of migration depths of both species. The tags remained attached for 3 and 5 mo and surfaced

AB - The spawning areas of tropical anguillid eels in the South Pacific are poorly known, and more information about their life histories is needed to facilitate conservation. We genetically characterized 83 out of 84 eels caught on Gaua Island (Vanuatu) and tagged 8 eels with pop-up satellite transmitters. Based on morphological evidence, 32 eels were identified as Anguilla marmorata, 45 as A. megastoma and 7 as A. obscura. Thirteen of these eels possessed a mitochondrial DNA sequence (control region, 527 bp) or nuclear haplotype (GTH2b, 268 bp) conflicting with their species designation. These individuals also had multi-locus genotypes (6 microsatellite loci) intermediate between the species, and 9 of these eels further possessed heterozygote genotypes at species-diagnostic nuclear single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We classified these individuals as possibly admixed between A. marmorata and A. megastoma. One A. marmorata and one A. megastoma migrated 634 and 874 km, respectively, towards the border between the South Equatorial Current and the South Equatorial Counter Current. Both species descended from around 200 m depth at night to 750 m during the day. Lunar cycle affected the upper limit of migration depths of both species. The tags remained attached for 3 and 5 mo and surfaced

U2 - 10.3354/meps11138

DO - 10.3354/meps11138

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0171-8630

VL - 521

SP - 171

EP - 187

JO - Marine Ecology Progress Series

JF - Marine Ecology Progress Series

ER -

Genetic and migratory evidence for sympatric spawning of tropical Pacific eels from Vanuatu

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