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Historical DNA documents long‐distance natal homing in marine fish
Author(s) -
Bonanomi Sara,
Overgaard Therkildsen Nina,
Retzel Anja,
Berg Hedeholm Rasmus,
Pedersen Martin Wæver,
Meldrup Dorte,
Pampoulie Christophe,
HemmerHansen Jakob,
Grønkjær Peter,
Nielsen Einar Eg
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
molecular ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.619
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1365-294X
pISSN - 0962-1083
DOI - 10.1111/mec.13580
Subject(s) - biology , gadus , homing (biology) , fishery , atlantic cod , population , marine fish , spawn (biology) , zoology , ecology , fish <actinopterygii> , demography , sociology
The occurrence of natal homing in marine fish remains a fundamental question in fish ecology as its unequivocal demonstration requires tracking of individuals from fertilization to reproduction. Here, we provide evidence of long‐distance natal homing (>1000 km) over more than 60 years in Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua ), through genetic analysis of archived samples from marked and recaptured individuals. Using a high differentiation single‐nucleotide polymorphism assay, we demonstrate that the vast majority of cod tagged in West Greenland and recaptured on Icelandic spawning grounds belonged to the Iceland offshore population, strongly supporting a hypothesis of homing. The high degree of natal fidelity observed provides the evolutionary settings for development of locally adapted populations in marine fish and emphasize the need to consider portfolio effects in marine fisheries management strategies.