Johnston Atoll: Reef Fish Hybrid Zone between Hawaii and the Equatorial Pacific
Johnston Atoll is isolated in the Central Pacific Ocean (16°45′ N 169°31′ W) about 1287 km (800 miles) southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii and 1440 km (900 miles) north of the equatorial Line Islands, Kiribati. The labrid species, <i>Thalassoma lutescens,</i&...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-02-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/2/83 |
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| author | Phillip S. Lobel Lisa K. Lobel John E. Randall |
| author_facet | Phillip S. Lobel Lisa K. Lobel John E. Randall |
| author_sort | Phillip S. Lobel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Johnston Atoll is isolated in the Central Pacific Ocean (16°45′ N 169°31′ W) about 1287 km (800 miles) southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii and 1440 km (900 miles) north of the equatorial Line Islands, Kiribati. The labrid species, <i>Thalassoma lutescens,</i> has a wide range of distribution in the equatorial Pacific. The related species, <i>Thalassoma duperrey</i>, is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. The pelagic larvae of both species dispersed to Johnston Atoll, where we found a mix of adult phenotypes representing a range of hybridization events over generations. A hybrid acanthurid was also documented. In addition, the arrival and colonization of two pomacentrid (damselfish) species to the atoll was observed in 1999. These pomacentrid sister-species, <i>Abudefduf abdominalis</i> and <i>A. vaigiensis,</i> have become established populations with subsequent hybridization. The biogeography of the Johnston Atoll coral reef fish population shows some degree of local population retention. It is also evident that this biogeographic isolation is periodically compromised by large ocean current oscillations in the equatorial and central Pacific Ocean that bring larval fishes from either Hawaii or the Line Islands, and may distribute Johnston Atoll originating larvae elsewhere as well. The reef fauna and oceanography of this atoll provides the circumstances for improving scientific insight into marine fish speciation and island biogeography. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T17:59:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-66afb1402d1a465f965a6c903534fd39 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T17:59:44Z |
| publishDate | 2020-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-66afb1402d1a465f965a6c903534fd392022-12-22T04:10:33ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182020-02-011228310.3390/d12020083d12020083Johnston Atoll: Reef Fish Hybrid Zone between Hawaii and the Equatorial PacificPhillip S. Lobel0Lisa K. Lobel1John E. Randall2Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USADepartment of Sciences, Middlesex Community College, Bedford, MA 01730, USABishop Museum, Honolulu, HI 96817, USA, <email>jackr@hawaii.rr.com</email>Johnston Atoll is isolated in the Central Pacific Ocean (16°45′ N 169°31′ W) about 1287 km (800 miles) southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii and 1440 km (900 miles) north of the equatorial Line Islands, Kiribati. The labrid species, <i>Thalassoma lutescens,</i> has a wide range of distribution in the equatorial Pacific. The related species, <i>Thalassoma duperrey</i>, is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. The pelagic larvae of both species dispersed to Johnston Atoll, where we found a mix of adult phenotypes representing a range of hybridization events over generations. A hybrid acanthurid was also documented. In addition, the arrival and colonization of two pomacentrid (damselfish) species to the atoll was observed in 1999. These pomacentrid sister-species, <i>Abudefduf abdominalis</i> and <i>A. vaigiensis,</i> have become established populations with subsequent hybridization. The biogeography of the Johnston Atoll coral reef fish population shows some degree of local population retention. It is also evident that this biogeographic isolation is periodically compromised by large ocean current oscillations in the equatorial and central Pacific Ocean that bring larval fishes from either Hawaii or the Line Islands, and may distribute Johnston Atoll originating larvae elsewhere as well. The reef fauna and oceanography of this atoll provides the circumstances for improving scientific insight into marine fish speciation and island biogeography.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/2/83biological invasion<i>thalassoma</i><i>abudefduf</i>labridaepomacentridaepacific biogeographycoral reefinvasive speciesfish colonizationspecies definition |
| spellingShingle | Phillip S. Lobel Lisa K. Lobel John E. Randall Johnston Atoll: Reef Fish Hybrid Zone between Hawaii and the Equatorial Pacific Diversity biological invasion <i>thalassoma</i> <i>abudefduf</i> labridae pomacentridae pacific biogeography coral reef invasive species fish colonization species definition |
| title | Johnston Atoll: Reef Fish Hybrid Zone between Hawaii and the Equatorial Pacific |
| title_full | Johnston Atoll: Reef Fish Hybrid Zone between Hawaii and the Equatorial Pacific |
| title_fullStr | Johnston Atoll: Reef Fish Hybrid Zone between Hawaii and the Equatorial Pacific |
| title_full_unstemmed | Johnston Atoll: Reef Fish Hybrid Zone between Hawaii and the Equatorial Pacific |
| title_short | Johnston Atoll: Reef Fish Hybrid Zone between Hawaii and the Equatorial Pacific |
| title_sort | johnston atoll reef fish hybrid zone between hawaii and the equatorial pacific |
| topic | biological invasion <i>thalassoma</i> <i>abudefduf</i> labridae pomacentridae pacific biogeography coral reef invasive species fish colonization species definition |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/2/83 |
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