Abstract

Lutjanidae is one of the largest teleostean families. Distinguishing lutjanid larvae from each other is difficult despite published larval descriptions. Taxonomic identification of these larvae to the species level represents one of the main bottlenecks in our understanding of their early life cycle. Such information is of vital relevance in the assessment of marine protected areas (MPAs) as management options to restore the declining stocks of commercially exploited fishes. To address this problem, we are in the process of identifying mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) diagnostics to lutjanids. Adult specimens were obtained from catches of local fishermen at the Parguera Fishing Village, southwest Puerto Rico. Larvae were obtained from plankton tows using a 202 µm mesh net. We quantified mtDNA variation through the use of polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) amplification of fragments corresponding to 450 bp of the 12S rRNA gene, followed by digestion with restriction enzymes. Seven haplotypes have been observed; four of them have been found in only one species of the adult specimens. One of the distinct haplotypes also corresponded for an unknown larvae. The haplotype of the unknown larvae matched with that of the adult of Lutjanus griseus. We consistently found and described a morphologically distinct type of lutjanid larva not previously described with a molecular haplotype and occurrence which might be compatible with Lutjanus apodus. Thus far, the procedure that we are undertaking is producing results that suggest that specific haplotypes will be identified for most of the species.

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