Signals from the deep-sea: Genetic structure, morphometric analysis, and ecological implications of Cyclothone braueri (Pisces, Gonostomatidae) early life stages in the Central Mediterranean Sea

Torri, Marco and Pappalardo, Anna Maria and Ferrito, Venera and Giannì, Salvatore and Armeri, Grazia Maria and Patti, Carlo and Mangiaracina, Francesca and Biondo, Girolama and Di Natale, Marilena and Musco, Marianna and Masullo, Tiziana and Bennici, Carmelo and Russo, Stefania and Nicosia, Aldo and Tagliavia, Marcello and Mazzola, Antonio and Patti, Bernardo and Cuttitta, Angela (2021) Signals from the deep-sea: Genetic structure, morphometric analysis, and ecological implications of Cyclothone braueri (Pisces, Gonostomatidae) early life stages in the Central Mediterranean Sea. Marine Environmental Research, 169. p. 105379. ISSN 01411136

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Abstract

Cyclothone braueri (Stomiiformes, Gonostomatidae) is a widely distributed fish inhabiting the mesopelagic zone of marine tropical and temperate waters. Constituting one of the largest biomasses of the ocean, C. braueri is a key element in most of the ecological processes occurring in the twilight layer. We focused on the ecological processes linked to early life stages in relation to marine pelagic environmental drivers (temperature, salinity, food availability and geostrophic currents) considering different regions of the Central Mediterranean Sea. A multivariate morphometric analysis was carried out using six parameters with the aim of discerning different larval morphotypes, while a fragment of 367 bp representing the 12S ribosomal RNA gene was used to perform molecular analyses aimed at determining the intraspecific genetic variability. Analysis highlighted two geographically distinct morphotypes not genetically discernible and related to the different nutritional conditions due to spatial heterogeneities in terms of temperature and food availability. The body depth (BD) emerged as an appropriate morphometric parameter to detect the larval condition in this species. Molecular analysis highlighted a moderate genetic divergence in the fish population, showing the recurrence of two phylogroups not geographically separated.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: 500 Scienze naturali e Matematica > 570 Scienze della vita; Biologia > 576 Genetica ed evoluzione > 576.5 Genetica
500 Scienze naturali e Matematica > 570 Scienze della vita; Biologia > 577.7 Ecologia marina
Depositing User: Dr Marco Torri
Date Deposited: 28 Jun 2023 12:43
Last Modified: 28 Jun 2023 12:43
URI: http://eprints.bice.rm.cnr.it/id/eprint/22368

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