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Conservation genomics of an exploited, popular aquarium trade species: the giant Caribbean sea anemone Condylactis gigantea (Anthozoa: Actiniidae)

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Abstract

The marine aquarium trade in the United States operates primarily in Florida, and though the trade’s effects on many marine taxa are largely unknown, local declines have been observed for some harvested species. To reverse local declines in the abundance of the giant Caribbean sea anemone Condylactis gigantea, state managers prohibited harvest of this popular aquarium organism in late 2012. To assess the recovery of C. gigantea following the moratorium, we monitored relative abundance at 45 fixed locations in South Florida from 2013 to 2016. Seventeen of the sites were locations provided to us by commercial aquarium-trade collectors. The remaining sites were locations at which C. gigantea was presumably not being exploited. We found increased densities at only 4 of those 17 sites, while densities at the remaining sites remained unchanged. We also examined genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism data to assess genetic diversity and population structure of 82 individuals from seven locations (three collection and four non-collection locations) across South Florida. Observed genetic diversity was comparable in all locations. But the location in the eastern Gulf of Mexico showed a significant FIS value, suggesting inbreeding that might be attributed to a small number of occupants. Condylactis gigantea is generally well mixed across South Florida, though a relatively weak pattern of genetic differentiation was detected. These results suggest limited reproductive success and dispersal that is restricted by hydrological and geographical barriers. We highlight the importance of periodic population and genetic monitoring to assess changes in relative abundance and genetic diversity.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Vanessa Brinkhuis, Angela Collins, Lindsay Huebner, Alison Johnson, Vanessa McDonough, and Brian Reckenbeil for help with surveys and collections, Heather Glon for lab assistance, Michael Norberg for cartography, Colin Shea for statistical advice, Teresa Boquete and Isolde van Riemsdijk for assistance with R, and John Parkinson for symbiont genome files. We are grateful to Luiz Barbieri for his support. Thanks also to Susan Bell, Erika Burgess, Niki Cushing, Jessica McCawley, Sharla Sugierski, Christopher Sweetman, and two anonymous reviewers for constructive comments on this manuscript. Samples were collected from Florida state waters under special activity licenses 16-1781-SRP and 17-1781-SRP and from Dry Tortugas National Park and Biscayne Bay National Park under the authorization of National Park Service Permit Numbers DRTO-2012-SCI-0014 and BISC-2014-SCI-0019. The statements, findings, and conclusions are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or other institutions.

Funding

Funding for this project was from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (Grant Nos. AE6939, AF9A67, B17278) to Christina L. Richards and Nancy E. Sheridan.

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NES, CLR, and AWS wrote the main manuscript text. NES, SS, and WCS conducted analyses. NES, WCS, and BMT conducted field work. NES, SS, and BMT conducted laboratory work. NES prepared Figs. 1, 2 and 4, and 6, WCS prepared Fig. 3, and SS prepared Fig. 5. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Nancy E. Sheridan.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Sheridan, N.E., Seyoum, S., Sharp, W.C. et al. Conservation genomics of an exploited, popular aquarium trade species: the giant Caribbean sea anemone Condylactis gigantea (Anthozoa: Actiniidae). Conserv Genet 24, 435–447 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-023-01511-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-023-01511-8

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