We analysed the genetic connectivity and larval transport routes of Lutjanus argentiventris to test if eddies could transport coastal-demersal fish larvae between the peninsular and mainland coasts of the Southern Gulf of California. Larval transport was estimated using the ROMS oceanographic model during the main spawning period (July–August). We used 12 microsatellite loci to assess genetic diversity, population structure and gene flow estimates in 233 L. argentiventris samples from nine sites. The oceanographic model suggested the existence of a stream flow and eddies that maintain connectivity in the Southern Gulf of California. The global AMOVA and paired F_ST showed no significant genetic differentiation among the sites, and the estimations of the number of migrants indicated moderate to high gene flow among locations. However, after testing five demographic scenarios of connectivity with a coalescent sampler, our results supported the presence of a metapopulation structure with source-sink dynamics. We discuss the challenges to reconcile our results considering the assumptions of the different analyses and the characteristics of marine metapopulations. Connectivity of L. argentiventris could be representative of other costal-demersal species with a similar life history and spawning season.

中文翻译：

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加利福尼亚南部海湾的黄鲷鱼（Lutjanus argentiventris）连通性

我们分析了Lutjanus argentiventris的遗传连通性和幼体运输路线，以测试涡旋是否可以在加利福尼亚南部海湾的半岛和内陆海岸之间运输沿海鱼类幼体。在主要产卵期（7月至8月），使用ROMS海洋模型估算了幼体的运输。我们使用了12个微卫星基因座来评估来自9个地点的233个Arg.vententiventris样本的遗传多样性，种群结构和基因流估计。该海洋学模型表明，在加利福尼亚州南部海湾地区存在保持连通性的水流和涡流。全局AMOVA和配对的F _ST结果表明，这些位点之间没有显着的遗传分化，而对移民数量的估计表明，各个位点之间的基因流量中等至较高。但是，在使用联合采样器测试了五个人口统计连通性场景后，我们的结果支持了具有源库动态的超种群结构的存在。考虑到不同分析的假设以及海洋种群的特征，我们讨论了调和我们的结果所面临的挑战。立香乳杆菌的连通性可以代表具有类似生活史和产卵季节的其他沿海-深海物种。