Genome Assembly of the Roundjaw Bonefish (Albula glossodonta), a Vulnerable Circumtropical Sportfish

Abstract

ABSTRACTBackgroundBonefishes are cryptic species indiscriminately targeted by subsistence and recreational fisheries worldwide. The roundjaw bonefish, Albula glossodonta is the most widespread bonefish species in the Indo-Pacific and is listed as vulnerable to extinction by the IUCN’s Red List due to anthropogenic activities. Whole-genome datasets allow for improved population and species delimitation, which – prior to this study – were lacking for Albula species.ResultsWe generated a high-quality genome assembly of an A. glossodonta individual from Hawai‘i, USA. The assembled contigs had an NG50 of 4.75 Mbp and a maximum length of 28.2 Mbp. Scaffolding yielded an NG50 of 14.49 Mbp, with the longest scaffold reaching 42.29 Mbp. Half the genome was contained in 20 scaffolds. The genome was annotated with 28.3 K protein-coding genes. We then analyzed 66 A. glossodonta individuals and 38,355 SNP loci to evaluate population genetic connectivity between six atolls in Seychelles and Mauritius in the Western Indian Ocean. We observed genetic homogeneity between atolls in Seychelles and evidence of reduced gene flow between Seychelles and Mauritius. The South Equatorial Current could be one mechanism limiting gene flow of A. glossodonta populations between Seychelles and Mauritius.ConclusionsQuantifying the spatial population structure of widespread fishery species such as bonefishes is necessary for effective transboundary management and conservation. This population genomic dataset mapped to a high-quality genome assembly allowed us to discern shallow population structure in a widespread species in the Western Indian Ocean. The genome assembly will be useful for addressing the taxonomic uncertainties of bonefishes globally.