Temporal and spatial population genetic variation in Chilean jack mackerel, Trachurus murphyi

Abstract

The Trachurus murphyi have been studied for population genetic structure for decades, identifying only one large population across the South Pacific Ocean. Although all these studies have extensively examined the spatial genetic pattern, there remains a gap in understanding the potential role of temporality. Our study aims to elucidate temporal and spatial genetic patterns in T. murphyi populations in the South Pacific Ocean, examining genetic composition across seasons, including feeding and spawning seasons, where the latter was not previously investigated. Using 10 microsatellite loci, our study confirms a consistent and stable population genetic pattern in T. murphyi across its geographic distribution, observed over multiple years and seasons. Furthermore, we identify potential genetic markers for monitoring variability in the species.