Genomic analysis reveals hidden population structure in commercially important flatfish species
A new genomic study of common sole and European plaice in the Celtic Sea and western English Channel found that despite high connectivity, both species show signs of adaptive differentiation across regions. For sole, adaptive loci revealed two subpopulations separated near the western English Channel, while plaice showed three distinct populations when a broader geographic area was examined. These findings have implications for the sustainable management of two of Europe's most commercially important flatfish species.
Researchers used full-genome resequencing of 244 sole and 189 plaice to investigate population structure in the Celtic Sea and western English Channel, analyzing both neutral loci (reflecting reproductive isolation) and adaptive loci (reflecting local adaptation). For common sole, neutral loci showed no evidence of reproductive isolation, but adaptive loci revealed two subpopulations divided near the western English Channel, consistent with earlier RAD-seq studies. European plaice showed no population structure within the Celtic Sea and western English Channel alone, but incorporating previously published genomic data from a wider geographic range identified three distinct populations: one in Iceland, one spanning the North Sea, Kattegat, and western Baltic, and one in the Celtic Sea and western English Channel. Three large chromosomal inversions were also identified in plaice, differing in frequency between regions and representing likely drivers of adaptive differentiation. The study underscores the value of distinguishing neutral from adaptive genetic variation when assessing population structure in commercially exploited fish, with direct relevance to fisheries management and conservation policy.
What's missing
The study is a preprint posted on bioRxiv and has not yet undergone peer review, so findings should be interpreted with caution. The authors do not fully address how the identified population structure should be translated into specific fisheries management units or quota adjustments. Additionally, the functional roles of the three chromosomal inversions identified in plaice remain uncharacterized, and the environmental or ecological drivers of adaptive differentiation are not directly tested.
What different sources said
- bioRxivCenter
Genomics reveals population structure despite high connectivity of common sole, Solea solea, and European plaice, Pleuronectes platessa, in the Celtic Sea and western English Channel.
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