The genetic diversity of 289 spotted scat (Scatophagus argus) from seven populations along the northern coast of the South China Sea was studied by analyzing the full‐length sequences of the mitochondrial control region (D‐LOOP). The S. argus D‐LOOP sequence was 1,004–1,010 bp long and contained 156 variant sites. The seven studied S. argus populations had a high degree of genetic diversity (haplotype diversity [Hd] = 0.99135; nucleotide diversity (π) = 0.01313). There was no obvious genetic differentiation among the seven geographical populations and gene exchange was frequent (Fst = −0.01867–0.01117, p > .05). Four distinct mitochondrial lineages were identified in the phylogenetic tree and the haplotype network. The between‐lineage Fst was 0.71690–0.84940 (p < .001), but these lineages showed no obvious phylogeographic pattern. Based on D‐LOOP mutation rates, we estimated that the four lineages diverged approximately 513,800–93,600 years ago, during the Eocene ice age, at which time falling sea levels may have led to population segregation. We estimated that S. argus population expansion occurred approximately 2.29–0.68 million years ago, during the late Pleistocene. During this period, sea levels rose again, allowing previously separated lineages to come into sympatry, which eventually gave rise to a highly genetically diverse population without pyhlogeographic structure. Here, we characterized the genetic structure and differentiation of seven S. argus populations from the northern coast of the South China Sea. Our results suggested that the seven S. argus populations from the northern coast of the South China Sea have a relatively low level of genetic variation and can be considered a single unit for the purposes of fishery development, utilization, and management.

中文翻译：

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南海北部沿海不同地理种群斑点小the（Scatophagus argus）中线粒体D-LOOP序列的遗传多样性

通过分析线粒体控制区（D-LOOP）的全长序列，研究了南海北部沿海沿岸七个种群的289个斑点小cat（Scatophagus argus）的遗传多样性。的S. ARGUS d-LOOP序列为1,004-1,010碱基长并含有156个变位点。研究的七个阿格斯链霉菌种群具有高度的遗传多样性（单倍型多样性[Hd] = 0.99135；核苷酸多样性（π）= 0.01313）。七个地理种群之间没有明显的遗传分化，并且基因交换频繁（Fst = −0.01867–0.01117，p > .05）。在系统发育树和单倍型网络中鉴定出四个不同的线粒体谱系。谱系间的Fst为0.71690–0.84940（p  <.001），但这些谱系未显示明显的谱系模式。根据D-LOOP突变率，我们估计始新世冰期期间，这四个世系在大约513,800–93,600年前发生了分歧，那时海平面下降可能导致了人口隔离。我们估计阿氏链球菌人口膨胀发生在大约229-68万年前的更新世晚期。在此期间，海平面再次上升，使先前分离的谱系进入交界处，最终导致了遗传学上高度多样化的种群，而没有传言结构。在这里，我们表征了南海北部海岸的七个阿氏链球菌种群的遗传结构和分化。我们的研究结果表明，南海北部沿海地区的七个阿氏链球菌种群的遗传变异水平相对较低，可以将其视为渔业发展，利用和管理的单一单位。