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Genetic structure of Pacific crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) in southern Japan based on genome-wide RADseq analysis

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Abstract

Pacific crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) are known to be widely distributed, and previous studies (showing limited genetic structure) suggest that there are high levels of connectivity at regional scales. It is possible, however, that methods used in previous studies (e.g., microsatellites) did not effectively resolve genetic differentiation and structure for crown-of-thorns starfish. This study examined patterns of genetic structure for populations of the A. cf. solaris in the Ryukyu Archipelago and at Miyazaki, Japan, using restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) analysis, to identify genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci to examine genetic diversity and gene flow of CoTS populations. We obtained 186 biallelic SNPs completely shared among 33 individuals by utilizing the published genome sequence of CoTS. Population genomic analysis with biallelic SNPs confirmed that there is limited genetic differentiation and seemingly strong connectivity and gene flow among CoTS populations in the Ryukyu Archipelago and at Miyazaki, Japan. Our findings likely reflect the rapid range expansion of CoTS through southern Japan or panmixia facilitated by the northward flowing Kuroshio Current.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Global Environment Research Fund 4RF-1501 of the Ministry of the Environment of Japan, KAKENHI Grants-in-Aid (grant no. 17H04996) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, and the Research Laboratory on Environmentally-conscious Developments and Technologies (E-code) at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). The authors are grateful to M. Pratchett who helped edit the paper ahead of publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geological Survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8567, Japan

    Akira Iguchi

  2. Research Laboratory On Environmentally-Conscious Developments and Technologies [E-Code], National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, 305-8567, Japan

    Akira Iguchi

  3. Department of Genetics, SOKENDAI (Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Mishima, Shizuoka, 411-8540, Japan

    Ipputa Tada

  4. Ryukoku University, 1-5 Yokotani, Seta Oe-cho, Otsu, Shiga, 520-2194, Japan

    Atsushi J. Nagano

  5. Department of Marine Biology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Gakuen-kibanadai-nishi-1-1, Miyazaki, 889-2192, Japan

    Nina Yasuda

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  1. Akira Iguchi
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Iguchi, A., Tada, I., Nagano, A.J. et al. Genetic structure of Pacific crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) in southern Japan based on genome-wide RADseq analysis. Coral Reefs 40, 1379–1385 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-021-02145-3

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