Genetic diversity and structure of opsaridium microlepis along lake Nyasa, Tanzania
Loading...
Date
2023
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tanzania Journal of Agricultural Sciences
Abstract
Opsaridium microlepis is a fish species that serves as a source of revenue and protein to most
people living near Lake Nyasa. However, the population of this species has witnessed a worrisome
decline, leading the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to classify it as a
threatened fish species. The current work used partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit
I (COI) sequences to investigate the genetic diversity, effective population size, and structure of
O. microlepis along the Lake Nyasa areas of Tanzania. The findings indicated that Kafyofyo had
the highest nucleotide diversity (π = 0.20%) and haplotype diversity (h = 0.78), while Katumba
had the lowest nucleotide diversity (π = 0.08%). The lowest haplotype diversity (h = 0.50) was
recorded at Katumba and Mbambabay. The molecular analysis indicated significant differences
across the subpopulations investigated (Overall PhiST (ΦST) = 0.093, P < 0.05). The mean Sum
of Square deviation (SSD), Harpending's raggedness index (HRI), Tajima's D (D), and Fu's Fs (Fs)
were 0.014, 0.157, 0.108, and -0.88680 respectively and neither the mismatch distribution nor the
neutrality test findings were significantly different from zero. The mismatch distribution supports
the idea of sudden population expansion. Consequently, the effective population size estimates are
large for sampling sites with higher genetic diversity. Thus, the current study's findings can serve
as a foundation for long-term strategic plans to conserve and manage populations of O. microlepis
in areas with low genetic diversity and effective population size.
Description
Proceedings
Keywords
Lake Nyasa, Tanzania, genetic diversity, effective population size, Opsaridium microlepis