AB 20:129-137 (2014)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/ab00552

ABSTRACT: The white grunt Haemulon plumieri is an important local artisanal fishery resource along the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. In the present study, the population structure of recently post-settled H. plumieri was assessed in 4 locations (Celestun, Dzilam, Yalahau and Chacmochuch) from the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula by using a phenotypic approach based on otolith shape analysis and by a genotypic approach using 4 microsatellite DNA markers. Both approaches indicated that the 4 location samples were different from each other: significant differences in otolith mean shapes were observed (PERMANOVA, F_3,196 = 10.9879, p = 0.0001), and significant genetic differentiation was also observed (global F_ST = 0.0560, p < 0.001). The isolation-by-distance test revealed a significant correlation between the F_ST values and the geographic distance in the subpopulations (Z = 98.1407, R² = 0.8680, p = 0.001). The greatest genetic differences were observed between the Celestun and Chacmochuch samples (F_ST = 0.069, p < 0.001), and the lowest genetic differences were observed between the Yalahau and Chacmochuch samples (F_ST = 0.029, p < 0.001). Our data indicate that dispersal may be limited in this species, and this could make white grunts vulnerable to local overfishing.

KEY WORDS: Haemulon plumieri · Juveniles · Population structure · DNA microsatellites · Fourier otolith shape