E-Locus - Institutional Repository of the University of Crete

Home Collections Type of Work Post-graduate theses

Post-graduate theses

Search command : Author="Στεφανίδης" And Author="Κωνσταντίνος"

Current Record: 7 of 6511

[Add to Basket]

Identifier

000463053

Title

Population genomic analysis of the European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) in the Western and Central Mediterranean

Alternative Title

Γονιδιωματική πληθυσμών του Ευρωπαϊκού γαύρου (Engraulis encrasicolus) της Δυτικής και Κεντρικής Μεσογείου

Author

Αλεξανδρίδης, Δαμιανός Ν.

Thesis advisor

Τσιγγενόπουλος, Κωνσταντίνος

Reviewer

Σωμαράκης, Στυλιανός
Μανουσάκη, Τ.

Abstract

Genomic studies have recently become a powerful tool to gain compelling insights into species recent evolutionary history, patterns of spatial genetic structure and connectivity. The European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus), one of the most important pelagic fish in the Mediterranean Sea, constitutes a keystone species within the marine ecosystem due to its role in regulating trophic interactions, while also contributing significantly to the region's fishing industry. The aim of the study was to assess the European anchovy’s population genetic structure in the Western and Central Mediterranean using a genomic approach. To identify a great number of polymorphic loci, we first assembled a draft reference genome of 1.69 Gb and 79.8% BUSCO completeness serving as a powerful mean for our downstream analysis. Then, we mapped ddRAD-sequencing data, generated from 398 anchovy individuals across twelve Western and Central Mediterranean sites, which led to the successful genotyping and further study based on 9,497 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Results showed that our samples were divided into two clusters: one grouping the individuals from the Atlantic and the Alboran Sea, and the other including individuals from the Northwestern and the Central Mediterranean Seas (FST=0.09). This differentiation highlights the presence of two distinct genetic pools, which is in alignment with prior research on European anchovy, indicating once again the Almeria–Oran front as a potential dispersal barrier for gene flow in the species. Consequently, our research sets the ground for delineating distinct stocks and implementing targeted conservation strategies to safeguard the species from over-exploitation and habitat degradation.

Language

English

Subject

DDRAD

Genome assembly

SNPS

Ευρωπαϊκός γαύρος

Μεσόγειος

Συναρμολόγηση γονιδιώματος

Issue date

2024-03-29

Collection