Unveiling regional population structure in blackbelly rosefish Helicolenus dactylopterus through otolith shape analysis
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: In the face of escalating fishing pressures and environmental change, deciphering the population structure of marine species is crucial for effective management and conservation. The blackbelly rosefish Helicolenus dactylopterus , which inhabits the northeastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea, serves as a model species, yet its population structure remains poorly understood despite its vulnerability to overfishing. We investigated morphotypic differentiation in otolith contour shape, examining otolith variability across sampled regions, including mainland Portugal, the Canary Islands, Mauritania, Atlantic Morocco, and Catalonia in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea, using wavelet functions. Our results reveal clear regional variation, with classification rates exceeding 94%. Two clusters were identified, separating African from European populations, with otolith shape variability linked to the anterior region, height, and postero-ventral margin. European populations exhibited thinner, more elongated otoliths, while African populations showed wider, more elliptical shapes. Juvenile otoliths closely resembled adult shapes. By incorporating juvenile fish, this study provides a more comprehensive understanding of regional population boundaries based on otolith morphotypes. It investigates the spatial variability of otolith shapes and explores their potential relationship with environmental conditions at depth, particularly temperature and salinity, offering new insights into blackbelly rosefish population structure. These findings contribute to improving population identification techniques and have important implications for sustainable fisheries management.
Source: Marine Ecology Progress Series
DOI: 10.3354/meps15035
Authors: Joana Vasconcelos, Alba Jurado-Ruzafa, Ana Neves, Rita Delia Santana Benítez, José Luis Otero-Ferrer, Antoni Lombarte, Carlos Hernández-González, Pablo Martín-Sosa, Ivan Ruiz-Pérez, Víctor Tuset
Language: English
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life below water
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7104710358