Affiliations 

  • 1 Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
  • 2 Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China National Sun Yat-sen University Kaohsiung Taiwan
  • 3 Department of Oceanography, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan Ministry of Natural Resources Xiamen China
  • 4 Endangered Marine Species Research Unit, Borneo Marine Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia Universiti Malaysia Sabah Kota Kinabalu Malaysia
  • 5 Department of Fisheries Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88624, Sabah, Malaysia Department of Fisheries Sabah Kota Kinabalu Malaysia
  • 6 Fisheries Research Institute, Sarawak, Department of Fisheries Malaysia, Kuching 93744, Sarawak, Malaysia Department of Fisheries Malaysia Kuching Malaysia
Zookeys, 2020;911:139-160.
PMID: 32104142 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.911.39222

Abstract

A background study is important for the conservation and stock management of a species. Terapon jarbua is a coastal Indo-Pacific species, sourced for human consumption. This study examined 134 samples from the central west and east coasts of Peninsular (West) Malaysia and East Malaysia. A 1446-bp concatenated dataset of mtDNA COI and Cyt b sequences was used in this study and 83 haplotypes were identified, of which 79 are unique haplotypes and four are shared haplotypes. Populations of T. jarbua in Malaysia are genetically heterogenous as shown by the high level of haplotype diversity ranging from 0.9167-0.9952, low nucleotide diversity ranging from 0.0288-0.3434, and high FST values (within population genetic variation). Population genetic structuring is not distinct as shown by the shared haplotypes between geographic populations and mixtures of haplotypes from different populations within the same genetic cluster. The gene flow patterns and population structuring observed among these regions are likely attributed to geographical distance, past historical events, allopatric speciation, dispersal ability and water currents. For instance, the mixture of haplotypes revealed an extraordinary migration ability of T. jarbua (>1200 km) via ancient river connectivity. The negative overall value of the neutrality test and a non-significant mismatch distribution are consistent with demographic expansion(s) in the past. The median-joining network concurred with the maximum likelihood haplotype tree with three major clades resolved. The scarcity of information on this species is an obstacle for future management and conservation purposes. Hence, this study aims to contribute information on the population structure, genetic diversity, and historical demography of T. jarbua in Malaysia.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.