Genetic identification and diversity of stocks of the African bonytongue, Heterotis niloticus (Osteoglossiformes: Arapaiminae), in Nigeria, West Africa
Abstract Inland fisheries are an important source of protein and income for people in Africa. Their sustainable management can greatly benefit from identification of regional genetic stocks and characterization of their genetic diversity, but such information is lacking for most African freshwater f...
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| Format: | Article |
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Nature Portfolio
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-12428-6 |
| _version_ | 1818549782324445184 |
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| author | Tofunmi E. Oladimeji Isabel C. Caballero Mariana Mateos Michael O. Awodiran Kirk O. Winemiller Alphonse Adite Luis A. Hurtado |
| author_facet | Tofunmi E. Oladimeji Isabel C. Caballero Mariana Mateos Michael O. Awodiran Kirk O. Winemiller Alphonse Adite Luis A. Hurtado |
| author_sort | Tofunmi E. Oladimeji |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Inland fisheries are an important source of protein and income for people in Africa. Their sustainable management can greatly benefit from identification of regional genetic stocks and characterization of their genetic diversity, but such information is lacking for most African freshwater fisheries. The African bonytongue, Heterotis niloticus, is an important component of inland fisheries in West Africa. Nigeria has the largest fishery for African bonytongues, representing ~ 86% of the global total. Recent declines in yields at some Nigerian locations, however, suggest current levels of exploitation may be unsustainable. Habitat degradation also may be impacting some stocks. Despite its commercial and nutritional importance, the African bonytongue has been the subject of scant genetic research to support management. We examined patterns of genetic diversity in natural populations of H. niloticus at four locations in Nigeria, including Kainji Lake, a reservoir on the Niger River in north-central Nigeria, and three southern localities (Ethiope River, Igbokoda River, and Epe Lagoon), as well fish from the Ouémé River delta near Porto Novo, Benin. Eighty-five specimens were genotyped for nine microsatellite-loci. Genetic diversity estimates were highest at Kainji Lake, and substantially lower at southern localities. High levels of genetic differentiation were detected between samples from Kainji Lake and those from southern localities. Low, yet significant F ST values were observed among samples from southern Nigerian localities that were more differentiated from the sample from nearby coastal Benin. We thus recommend that African bonytongues from the five locations be considered distinct genetic stocks and managed accordingly. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T08:37:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-aa5042f90406418c816c75a6f1dabfc3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T08:37:45Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-aa5042f90406418c816c75a6f1dabfc32022-12-22T00:30:52ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-05-0112111210.1038/s41598-022-12428-6Genetic identification and diversity of stocks of the African bonytongue, Heterotis niloticus (Osteoglossiformes: Arapaiminae), in Nigeria, West AfricaTofunmi E. Oladimeji0Isabel C. Caballero1Mariana Mateos2Michael O. Awodiran3Kirk O. Winemiller4Alphonse Adite5Luis A. Hurtado6Department of Zoology, Obafemi Awolowo UniversityDepartment of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M UniversityDepartment of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M UniversityDepartment of Zoology, Obafemi Awolowo UniversityDepartment of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M UniversityLaboratoire d’Ecologie et de Management des Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (LEMEA), Département de Zoologie, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université d’Abomey-CalaviDepartment of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M UniversityAbstract Inland fisheries are an important source of protein and income for people in Africa. Their sustainable management can greatly benefit from identification of regional genetic stocks and characterization of their genetic diversity, but such information is lacking for most African freshwater fisheries. The African bonytongue, Heterotis niloticus, is an important component of inland fisheries in West Africa. Nigeria has the largest fishery for African bonytongues, representing ~ 86% of the global total. Recent declines in yields at some Nigerian locations, however, suggest current levels of exploitation may be unsustainable. Habitat degradation also may be impacting some stocks. Despite its commercial and nutritional importance, the African bonytongue has been the subject of scant genetic research to support management. We examined patterns of genetic diversity in natural populations of H. niloticus at four locations in Nigeria, including Kainji Lake, a reservoir on the Niger River in north-central Nigeria, and three southern localities (Ethiope River, Igbokoda River, and Epe Lagoon), as well fish from the Ouémé River delta near Porto Novo, Benin. Eighty-five specimens were genotyped for nine microsatellite-loci. Genetic diversity estimates were highest at Kainji Lake, and substantially lower at southern localities. High levels of genetic differentiation were detected between samples from Kainji Lake and those from southern localities. Low, yet significant F ST values were observed among samples from southern Nigerian localities that were more differentiated from the sample from nearby coastal Benin. We thus recommend that African bonytongues from the five locations be considered distinct genetic stocks and managed accordingly.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-12428-6 |
| spellingShingle | Tofunmi E. Oladimeji Isabel C. Caballero Mariana Mateos Michael O. Awodiran Kirk O. Winemiller Alphonse Adite Luis A. Hurtado Genetic identification and diversity of stocks of the African bonytongue, Heterotis niloticus (Osteoglossiformes: Arapaiminae), in Nigeria, West Africa Scientific Reports |
| title | Genetic identification and diversity of stocks of the African bonytongue, Heterotis niloticus (Osteoglossiformes: Arapaiminae), in Nigeria, West Africa |
| title_full | Genetic identification and diversity of stocks of the African bonytongue, Heterotis niloticus (Osteoglossiformes: Arapaiminae), in Nigeria, West Africa |
| title_fullStr | Genetic identification and diversity of stocks of the African bonytongue, Heterotis niloticus (Osteoglossiformes: Arapaiminae), in Nigeria, West Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic identification and diversity of stocks of the African bonytongue, Heterotis niloticus (Osteoglossiformes: Arapaiminae), in Nigeria, West Africa |
| title_short | Genetic identification and diversity of stocks of the African bonytongue, Heterotis niloticus (Osteoglossiformes: Arapaiminae), in Nigeria, West Africa |
| title_sort | genetic identification and diversity of stocks of the african bonytongue heterotis niloticus osteoglossiformes arapaiminae in nigeria west africa |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-12428-6 |
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