Geographic, genetic and life-history variability in a sex-changing fish
Sequential hermaphroditism, commonly referred to as sex change or sex reversal, is a striking phenomenon in mating-system evolution and the most remarkable example of sexual plasticity. Among vertebrates, it is specific to teleosts. Some fish species reproduce initially as females and then change in...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2015-11-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/conf.fmars.2015.03.00120/full |
| _version_ | 1811261640864169984 |
|---|---|
| author | Chiara Benvenuto |
| author_facet | Chiara Benvenuto |
| author_sort | Chiara Benvenuto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sequential hermaphroditism, commonly referred to as sex change or sex reversal, is a striking phenomenon in mating-system evolution and the most remarkable example of sexual plasticity. Among vertebrates, it is specific to teleosts. Some fish species reproduce initially as females and then change into males (protogynous hermaphrodites) or vice versa (protandrous hermaphrodites). The white sea bream, Diplodus sargus, exhibits a high degree of sexual plasticity: populations have been reported to be gonochoristic, protandrous or digynic (with primary females, derived from intersexual juveniles, and secondary females, derived from males). We analysed populations collected from eight different locations across the species distribution range (between the Mediterranean and the North-Eastern Atlantic). These populations are characterized by different degrees of connectivity, spatial demographics and life histories. Using individual-based analyses, we linked the genetic structure of each specimen with environmental heterogeneity, life-history traits and reproductive modes. Our aim is to gather a better understanding of the variation in reproductive life-history strategies in this sexually plastic species. Diplodus sargus is a valuable candidate organism to investigate sequential hermaphroditism and it also has a commercial value. The application of population genetics tools against the background of life-history theory can bring valuable insights for the management of marine resources. The geographical patterns of sex change (and of age- and size-at-sex change) linked with population genetics can be pivotal for both theoretical investigations and conservation and management plans in marine areas. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T19:09:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ad003aaa1e9443b9a846c10e01eaf309 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T19:09:19Z |
| publishDate | 2015-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-ad003aaa1e9443b9a846c10e01eaf3092022-12-22T03:19:56ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452015-11-01210.3389/conf.fmars.2015.03.00120179228Geographic, genetic and life-history variability in a sex-changing fishChiara Benvenuto0University of SalfordSequential hermaphroditism, commonly referred to as sex change or sex reversal, is a striking phenomenon in mating-system evolution and the most remarkable example of sexual plasticity. Among vertebrates, it is specific to teleosts. Some fish species reproduce initially as females and then change into males (protogynous hermaphrodites) or vice versa (protandrous hermaphrodites). The white sea bream, Diplodus sargus, exhibits a high degree of sexual plasticity: populations have been reported to be gonochoristic, protandrous or digynic (with primary females, derived from intersexual juveniles, and secondary females, derived from males). We analysed populations collected from eight different locations across the species distribution range (between the Mediterranean and the North-Eastern Atlantic). These populations are characterized by different degrees of connectivity, spatial demographics and life histories. Using individual-based analyses, we linked the genetic structure of each specimen with environmental heterogeneity, life-history traits and reproductive modes. Our aim is to gather a better understanding of the variation in reproductive life-history strategies in this sexually plastic species. Diplodus sargus is a valuable candidate organism to investigate sequential hermaphroditism and it also has a commercial value. The application of population genetics tools against the background of life-history theory can bring valuable insights for the management of marine resources. The geographical patterns of sex change (and of age- and size-at-sex change) linked with population genetics can be pivotal for both theoretical investigations and conservation and management plans in marine areas.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/conf.fmars.2015.03.00120/fullpopulation structureReproductive strategiesDiplodus sargusProtandrySequential hermaphroditism |
| spellingShingle | Chiara Benvenuto Geographic, genetic and life-history variability in a sex-changing fish Frontiers in Marine Science population structure Reproductive strategies Diplodus sargus Protandry Sequential hermaphroditism |
| title | Geographic, genetic and life-history variability in a sex-changing fish |
| title_full | Geographic, genetic and life-history variability in a sex-changing fish |
| title_fullStr | Geographic, genetic and life-history variability in a sex-changing fish |
| title_full_unstemmed | Geographic, genetic and life-history variability in a sex-changing fish |
| title_short | Geographic, genetic and life-history variability in a sex-changing fish |
| title_sort | geographic genetic and life history variability in a sex changing fish |
| topic | population structure Reproductive strategies Diplodus sargus Protandry Sequential hermaphroditism |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/conf.fmars.2015.03.00120/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chiarabenvenuto geographicgeneticandlifehistoryvariabilityinasexchangingfish |