Panmixia in a Critically Endangered Fish: The Totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi) in the Gulf of California

摘要: Conservation of the evolutionary legacy endangered species is a key component for long-term persistence. Totoaba long-lived fish endemic to Gulf California and considered critically endangered. There currently debate concerning its conservation status whether it can be used as fishery resource. Unfortunately, basic information on biological genetic population structure lacking. We sampled 313 individuals employed 16 microsatellite loci 3 mitochondrial DNA markers (16S, 547 pb; COI, 619 control region, 650 pb) assess demography totoaba in California, with samples from locations that encompass nearly all recognized geographic distribution. could not reject hypothesis panmixia totoaba, using nuclear or markers. Demographic analysis mtDNA suggests sudden expansion model. The results have important implications because poaching significant challenge additive negative effects over single California.