Publication
Comparative population genomics of manta rays has global implications for management
Publisher:
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date:
21-06-2023
DOI:
10.1101/2023.06.19.545572
Abstract: Understanding population connectivity and genetic ersity is of fundamental importance to conservation. However, in globally threatened marine megafauna, challenges remain due to their elusive nature and wide-ranging distributions. As overexploitation continues to threaten bio ersity across the globe, such knowledge gaps compromise both the suitability and effectiveness of management actions. Here, we use a comparative framework to investigate genetic differentiation and ersity of manta rays, one of the most iconic yet vulnerable groups of elasmobranchs on the planet. Despite their recent ergence, we show how oceanic manta rays (Mobula birostris) display significantly higher genetic ersity than reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) and that M. birostris populations display higher connectivity worldwide. Through reconstructing modes of colonisation, we reveal how both contemporary and historical forces have likely influenced these patterns, with important implications for population management. Our findings highlight the potential for fisheries to disrupt population dynamics at both local and global scales and therefore have direct relevance for international marine conservation. Population genomics of manta rays reveals striking differences in differentiation and ersity between two recently erged species.