The leopard coral grouper, Plectropomus leopardus, is a commercially important fish species in the Philippines, often the target of a booming live reef fish trade in the Asia-Pacific. Because of high demands and a vulnerable life-history trait, this species' natural stocks have been recorded to dwindle at a rapid rate. With the aim of providing a science-based conservation framework through determining management units of its natural stocks, populations of P. leopardus were investigated using outline-based shape analysis of earbones known as otoliths. Four localities (i.e., Linapacan, Taytay, Quezon, and Tawi-Tawi) were selected in the present study, all known as major hubs for the live reef fish for food trade (LRFFT) in the country. Analysis of otolith shape outlines of 100 specimens revealed distinct morphological clusters, as supported by Procrustes ANOVA results using residual randomization. However, further pairwise comparison tests showed no significant differences between Taytay and Tawi-Tawi (Z = 1.6701, p = 0.070), indicating shared characteristics between the two populations. Relative warps of the outlines detected variations in the overall shape and rostrum of the otoliths, which have previously been attributed to environmental and genetic differences. Further tests will be done using other techniques like biophysical modeling and otolith microchemistry, for a holistic science-based management approach toward conservation of this economically important species.
DISCRIMINATING POPULATIONS OF LEOPARD CORAL GROUPER, PLECTROPOMUS LEOPARDUS, IN MAJOR TRADING CENTERS IN THE PHILIPPINES USING OTOLITH OUTLINE ANALYSIS
AUTHORS:
Joey P. Cabasan, The Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines Diliman
Hazel O. Arceo, Department of Biology and Environmental Science, College of Science, University of the Philippines Cebu
Maria Vanessa B. Rodriguez, The Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines Diliman
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