Phylogeography of two marine predators, giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis) and bluefin trevally (Caranx melampygus), across the Indo-Pacific

Abstract

For economically valuable marine fishes, identifying biogeographic barriers and estimating the extent of gene flow are critical components of fisheries management. We examined the population genetic structure of two commercially important reef-associated predators, the giant trevally ( Caranx ignobilis) and bluefin trevally (Caranx melampygus). We sampled 225 individuals and 32,798 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of C. ignobilis, and 74 individuals and 43,299 SNPs of C. melampygus. Analyses of geographic population structure indicate the two species display subtly different phylogeographic patterns. Caranx ignobilis comprises two to three putative populations—one in the Central Pacific, one inhabiting the Western Pacific and Eastern Indian oceans, and one in the Western Indian Ocean—with some restricted gene flow between them. Caranx melampygus shows evidence of restricted gene flow from Hawaii to the West Pacific and Indian oceans, as well as limited genetic connectivity across the Indo- Pacific Barrier. Both species exhibit patterns characteristic of other large, reef-associated predators such as deepwater snappers and the great barracuda. This study contributes to ongoing assessments of the role of the Indo-Pacific Barrier in shaping patterns of phylogeography for large reef-associated fishes. Furthermore, by identifying putative populations of C. ignobilis and C. melampygus in the Central Pacific, our findings serve to improve future management measures for these economically important, data-limited species, particularly in light of historic and contemporary overfishing in Hawaii.