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Population structure and connectivity of the European conger eel (Conger conger) across the north-eastern Atlantic and western Mediterranean: integrating molecular and otolith elemental approaches

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Abstract

Genetic variation (mtDNA) of the European conger eel, Conger conger, was compared across five locations in the north-eastern Atlantic (Madeira, Azores, South Portugal, North Portugal and Ireland) and one location in the western Mediterranean (Mallorca). Genetic diversity of conger eel was high, and differentiation among regions was not significant. Additionally, comparisons of element:Ca ratios (Sr:Ca, Ba:Ca, Mn:Ca and Mg:Ca) in otolith cores (larval phase) and edges (3 months prior to capture) among the Azores, North Portugal, Madeira and Mallorca regions for 2 years indicated that variation among regions were greater for edges than cores. Therefore, while benthic conger may display residency at regional scales, recruitment may not necessarily be derived from local spawning and larval retention. Furthermore, data from otoliths suggest a separated replenishment source for western Mediterranean and NE Atlantic stocks. The combination of genetics and otolith chemistry suggests a population model for conger eel involving a broad-scale dispersal of larvae, with limited connectivity for benthic juvenile life stages at large spatial scales, although the existence of one or multiple spawning grounds for the species remains uncertain.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Francis Neat (Marine Scotland—Science; Scottish Government; Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen), Eduardo Isidro (Departamento de Oceanografia e Pescas da Universidade dos Açores) and João Delgado (Secretaria Regional das Pescas da Região Autónoma da Madeira) for providing the biological samples in Ireland, Azores and Madeira, respectively. Stewart Grant was most helpful in an early edition of the manuscript. This work was fully supported by the Portuguese Science Foundation and Technology (POCI/MAR/58837/2004 and PPCDT/MAR/58837/2004).

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  1. Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, CIIMAR-CIMAR Laboratório Associado, Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123, Porto, Portugal

    Alberto T. Correia, Filipe Barros & Pedro Morais

  2. Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde (FCS), Centro Interdisciplinar de Alterações Globais e Bioengenharia (CIAGEB), Universidade Fernando Pessoa (UFP), Rua Carlos Maia, 296, 4200-150, Porto, Portugal

    Alberto T. Correia

  3. CCMAR-CIMAR Laboratório Associado, Centro de Ciências do Mar, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal

    Ana A. Ramos, Gonçalo Silva, Regina L. Cunha & Rita Castilho

  4. Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries Research Branch, P.O. Box 114, 2A Bellarine Highway, Queenscliff, VIC, 3225, Australia

    Paul Hamer

  5. International Centre for Coastal Ecohydrology, Solar do Capitão Mor, EN125 Horta das Figuras, 8000-518, Faro, Portugal

    Pedro Morais

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  1. Alberto T. Correia
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Correspondence to Alberto T. Correia.

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Communicated by T. Reusch.

Alberto T. Correia and Rita Castilho contributed equally to this work.

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Correia, A.T., Ramos, A.A., Barros, F. et al. Population structure and connectivity of the European conger eel (Conger conger) across the north-eastern Atlantic and western Mediterranean: integrating molecular and otolith elemental approaches. Mar Biol 159, 1509–1525 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-1936-3

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