A Pilot Study on the Genetic Variation of Eastern Little Tuna (Euthynnus affinis) in Southeast Asia
Mudjekeewis D. Santos1,2,*, Grace V. Lopez1, and Noel C. Barut1
1Marine Fisheries Research and Development Division, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, 940 Quezon Ave., Quezon City 1103 Philippines
2Department of Biology, School of Science and Engineering, Ateneo de Manila University, Katipunan Ave., Quezon City 1108 Philippines
corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ABSTRACT
Eastern little tuna or kawakawa (Euthynnus affinis) is one of the commercially important tunas in the Philippines and in the Southeast Asian region. Therefore, its sustainability needs to be ensured by effective management. Unfortunately, knowledge on the stock structure of this migratory species in the region, needed for management, is unclear. Here, we studied its genetic population structure using a 300 bp mitochondrial DNA control region (D-loop) marker. Thirty-five samples collected in five areas around the Philippines (Aparri, Palawan, Cagayan de Oro, Tawi-Tawi, and Davao) and thirteen from Peninsular Malaysia (Pangkor Island, Penang) were sequenced and analyzed. Forty five haplotype sequences were homologous (99%) to each other while three (all from Malaysia) were divergent (80%) sequences indicating misidentification. Haplotype distribution, low overall FST value and non-concordant phylogeographic grouping of the haplotypes indicated that eastern little tuna is panmixing in Southeast Asia.
INTRODUCTION
Eastern little tuna or kawakawa, Euthynnus affinis (Cantor 1849), a small epipelagic, migratory, neritic tuna is one of the major commercial tuna species being caught worldwide. Its production has steadily increased from 20,000 tons in 1950 to about 280,000 tons in 2006 (http://www.fao.org). In the Philippines, eastern little tuna remains an important commercial fish species being landed in the country in terms of volume (BAS 2006) . . . .
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