Abstract

Caribbean reefs are in peril, and marine protected area (MPA) networks are management strategies to ameliorate and restore these jeopardized systems. Understanding whether populations of marine organisms behave as open or close entities and the geographic scale at which open populations are connected are central to adequately design successful MPA networks. Genetic surveys are among the most useful approaches to inferred connectivity among populations. Here we use genetic data to investigate levels of connectivity at two spatial scales (23 - 250 km and 500 - 1500 km) in the benthic yellowhead jawfish (Opistognathus aurifrons). I genotypes 220 individuals at a mtDNA dloop and a nuclear gene (Atrop). At large scales populations show strong genetic subdivision. At the extremes, populations in Florida have reduced levels of variation and are fixed for local haplotypes, while in Curacao, populations have the highest genetic diversity with private haplotypes at high frequencies (> 25%). At smaller scales, populations within Puerto Rico (< 250 km) showed subtle genetic subdivision. This study highlights that connectivity among Caribbean populations of benthic fishes may not be connected over the species range. Even populations as close as 250 km show signs of genetic segregation. The distance among MPAs with any network should reflect the local scales of connectivity, while multiple networks may be necessary to protect the full diversity of marine populations.

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