Éditeur(s) : EDP Sciences
Résumé : The reproductive dynamics of swordfish (Xiphias gladius) was investigated from catches of the Reunion Island-based longline swordfish fishery between 19-25 degrees S and 48-54 degrees E. Thus, 1727 swordfish (size range 75-289 cm, lower jaw-to-fork length, LJFL) were sampled on board commercial fishing vessels during the period of May 1998 to January 2001. Reproductive activity was assessed using macroscopic gonad characteristics, trends of gonadal indexes for both sexes, oocyte size-frequency distributions and microscopic investigation of oocyte development stages. Size at first maturity (L-50) for female and male swordfish was estimated in Indian Ocean for the first time. L50 was estimated at 170 cm and 120 cm (LJFL) for females and males, respectively. Spawning occurred from October to April in the vicinity of Reunion Island where sex ratio of caught populations fluctuated seasonally. The seasonal changes in sex ratio and the incidence of larger individuals at the beginning of the spawning season provide some preliminary indications of synchronized movements of swordfish between spawning grounds and neighboring regions. Our results add significantly to knowledge about the reproductive biology of swordfish in the southwestern Indian Ocean. An overview of the available information on reproductive biology and dynamics of swordfish in Indian Ocean and eastern Pacific indicated that spawning activity is localized in discrete areas, and showed that there is incomplete information on spawning grounds in this extended area.
La dynamique de la reproduction est étudiée chez des espadons (Xiphias gladius) capturés dans l'océan Indien, entre 19–25 °Sud et 48–54 °Est, par les palangriers de l'île de La Réunion. Ainsi, 1727 espadons de tailles comprises entre 75 et 289 cm (de l'extrémité de la mâchoire inférieure à la fourche caudale) ont été échantillonnés à bord de navires professionnels, de mai 1998 à janvier 2001. La reproduction est évaluée en analysant : les caractéristiques macroscopiques des gonades, l'évolution des indices gonadiques des deux sexes, les distributions de fréquence de taille des ovocytes et le développement des ovocytes au niveau microscopique. La taille à première maturité sexuelle (L50) des espadons de l'océan Indien est estimée pour la première fois ; elle atteint 170 cm pour les femelles et 120 cm pour les mâles. La saison de ponte s'étend d'octobre à avril aux abords de l'île tandis que le sexe-ratio fluctue de façon saisonnière. Les variations saisonnières du sexe-ratio et l'apparition de grands individus au début de la saison de ponte suggèrent des déplacements d'espadons entre cette zone de ponte et les régions voisines. Nos résultats apportent des informations fondamentales sur la biologie de la reproduction de l'espadon dans le sud-ouest de l'océan Indien. L'analyse de la bibliographie concernant biologie et la dynamique de la reproduction de l'espadon dans l'océan Indien et dans le Pacifique Est indique que l'activité de ponte est très localisée et que la connaissance des aires de pontes est encore incomplète dans cette région étendue.
Aquatic Living Resources (0990-7440) (EDP Sciences), 2009 , Vol. 22 , N. 1 , P. 45-58

Droits : 2009 EDP Sciences
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2009/publication-6353.pdf
DOI:10.1051/alr/2009007
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/6353/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Linnean Society of London
Résumé : International audience
Although migratory pelagic fishes generally exhibit little geographic differentiation across oceans, as expected from their life-history (broadcast spawning, pelagic larval life, swimming ability of adults) and the assumed homogeneity of the pelagic habitat, exceptions to the rule deserve scrutiny. One such exception is the narrow-barred Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson), where strong genetic heterogeneity at the regional scale has been previously reported. We investigated the genetic composition of S. commerson across the Indo-West Pacific range using control-region sequences (including previously published datasets), cytochrome-b gene partial sequences, and eight microsatellite loci, to further explore its phylogeographic structure. All haplotypes sampled from the Indo-Malay-Papua archipelago (IMPA) and the southwestern Pacific coalesced into a clade (Clade II) that was deeply separated (14.5% nucleotide divergence) from a clade grouping all haplotypes from the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea (Clade I). Such a high level of genetic divergence suggested the occurrence of two sister-species. Further phylogeographic partition was evident between the western IMPA and the regions sampled east and south of it, i.e. northern Australia, West Papua, and the Coral Sea. Strong allele-frequency differences were found between local populations in the southwestern Pacific, both at the mitochondrial locus (ΦST=0.282-0.609) and at microsatellite loci (^θ=0.202-0.313). Clade II consisted of four deeply divergent subclades (9.0-11.8% nucleotide divergence for the control region; 0.3-2.5% divergence at the cytochrome b locus). Mitochondrial sub-clades within Clade II generally had narrow geographic distribution, demonstrating further genetic isolation. However, one particular haplogroup within Clade II was present throughout the central Indo-West Pacific; that haplogroup was found to be sister-group to an haplogroup restricted to West Papua and the Coral Sea, yielding evidence of recent secondary westward colonization. Such a complex structure is in sharp contrast with the generally weak phylogeographic patterns uncovered to date in other widely distributed, large pelagic fishes with pelagic eggs and larvae. We hypothesize that in S. commerson and possibly other Scomberomorus species, philopatric migration may play a role in maintaining the geographic isolation of populations by annihilating the potential consequences of passive dispersal.
Biological Journal of the Linnean Society

ird-00759711
http://hal.ird.fr/ird-00759711
http://hal.ird.fr/ird-00759711/document

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Linnean Society of London
Résumé : International audience
Although migratory pelagic fishes generally exhibit little geographic differentiation across oceans, as expected from their life-history (broadcast spawning, pelagic larval life, swimming ability of adults) and the assumed homogeneity of the pelagic habitat, exceptions to the rule deserve scrutiny. One such exception is the narrow-barred Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson), where strong genetic heterogeneity at the regional scale has been previously reported. We investigated the genetic composition of S. commerson across the Indo-West Pacific range using control-region sequences (including previously published datasets), cytochrome-b gene partial sequences, and eight microsatellite loci, to further explore its phylogeographic structure. All haplotypes sampled from the Indo-Malay-Papua archipelago (IMPA) and the southwestern Pacific coalesced into a clade (Clade II) that was deeply separated (14.5% nucleotide divergence) from a clade grouping all haplotypes from the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea (Clade I). Such a high level of genetic divergence suggested the occurrence of two sister-species. Further phylogeographic partition was evident between the western IMPA and the regions sampled east and south of it, i.e. northern Australia, West Papua, and the Coral Sea. Strong allele-frequency differences were found between local populations in the southwestern Pacific, both at the mitochondrial locus (ΦST=0.282-0.609) and at microsatellite loci (^θ=0.202-0.313). Clade II consisted of four deeply divergent subclades (9.0-11.8% nucleotide divergence for the control region; 0.3-2.5% divergence at the cytochrome b locus). Mitochondrial sub-clades within Clade II generally had narrow geographic distribution, demonstrating further genetic isolation. However, one particular haplogroup within Clade II was present throughout the central Indo-West Pacific; that haplogroup was found to be sister-group to an haplogroup restricted to West Papua and the Coral Sea, yielding evidence of recent secondary westward colonization. Such a complex structure is in sharp contrast with the generally weak phylogeographic patterns uncovered to date in other widely distributed, large pelagic fishes with pelagic eggs and larvae. We hypothesize that in S. commerson and possibly other Scomberomorus species, philopatric migration may play a role in maintaining the geographic isolation of populations by annihilating the potential consequences of passive dispersal.
ISSN: 0024-4066

ird-00759711
http://hal.ird.fr/ird-00759711
http://hal.ird.fr/ird-00759711v2/document
http://hal.ird.fr/ird-00759711/file/FauvelotBorsa_Scomberomorus%20commerson%20p%20HAL.pdf

Éditeur(s) : EDP Sciences
Résumé : Batch fecundity and relative fecundity of swordfish (Xiphias gladius) in the southwestern Indian Ocean were estimated from seven gravid swordfish females (size range 127-225 cm lower jaw-to-fork length, LJFL) with unovulated, hydrated oocytes collected onboard Reunion-based (France) longline swordfish fishing vessels between December 1999 to January 2001. To investigate the spawning pattern of swordfish, we used data collected through a combination of two at sea sampling regimes. A total of 17 007 geo-located size data of swordfish were recorded during 8 years (1993-2001) and a total of 1727 (size range 75-289 cm, LJFL) swordfish gonads (1107 females and 620 males) were sampled from May 1998 to January 2001. The estimated batch fecundity ranged from 995 000 hydrated oocytes for the smallest ripe female to 4.3 millions for the largest female sampled measuring respectively 127 to 225 cm in curved length (LJFL). The relative fecundity ranged from 25 to 72 hydrated oocytes per gram of body weight. We found that batch fecundity was positively correlated with fish length and that the older/larger females have earlier and longer spawning seasons than younger/smaller females. These findings suggested that older/larger females which are seasonally migrating in this spawning ground seem to play a major role in reproductive success of the species in producing significantly more offspring than younger females during an extended spawning season. Examination of the length-frequency date from the fishery indicated that the young fish are resident around Reunion and around the seamounts off Reunion Island. Our results highlight the important role of the older/larger females in the reproductive capacity of southwestern Indian Ocean stock. We discuss the potential implications of fishing the older/larger females for this stock in terms of reproduction and recruitment.
La fécondité par acte de ponte et la fécondité relative chez l'espadon (Xiphias gladius) dans le sud-ouest de l'océan Indien sont estimées d'après sept femelles de taille comprise entre 127 et 225 cm (de l'extrémité de la mâchoire inférieure à la fourche caudale) ; celles-ci ayant atteint la maturité sexuelle, les ovaires contenant des ovocytes hydratés. Ces femelles ont été pêchées entre décembre 1999 et janvier 2001, par des palangriers ciblant l'espadon et basés à La Réunion. La stratégie de la reproduction chez l'espadon a été étudiée en utilisant des données collectées au cours de deux campagnes d'échantillonnages en mer : soit 17 007 mensurations géo-référencées d'espadons, de 75 à 289 cm, qui ont été enregistrées durant les 8 années d'étude (1993-2001) et 1727 gonades d'espadon (1107 femelles et 620 mâles) prélevées entre mai 1998 et juin 2001.La fécondité par acte de ponte estimée varie de 995 000 ovocytes hydratés, pour la plus petite femelle (127 cm), à 4,3 millions pour la plus grande femelle (225 cm). La fécondité par acte de ponte est corrélée positivement à la taille du poisson. La fécondité relative s'étend de 25 à 72 ovocytes hydratés par gramme de poids de corps. Les femelles les plus âgées/grandes pondent plus tôt et sur une période plus grande que les plus jeunes/petites femelles. Ainsi, les femelles plus âgées/grandes qui migrent de façon saisonnière vers cette aire de ponte, contribueraient plus largement au renouvellement de l'espèce en produisant de façon significative davantage de recrues que les femelles plus jeunes et ceci pendant une saison de ponte plus étendue. Par ailleurs, les jeunes individus semblent séjourner aux abords de l'île de La Réunion et des monts sous-marins situés au large. Nos résultats soulignent l'importance du rôle des femelles âgées/grandes dans la capacité reproductrice du stock d'espadon du sud-ouest de l'océan Indien. Les implications potentielles de la pêche : des femelles âgées et de grandes tailles sont discutées pour ce stock, du point de vue de la reproduction et du recrutement.
Aquatic Living Resources (0990-7440) (EDP Sciences), 2009 , Vol. 22 , N. 1 , P. 59-68

Droits : 2009 EDP Sciences
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2009/publication-6354.pdf
DOI:10.1051/alr/2009012
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/6354/

Éditeur(s) : Blackwell science
Résumé : Patterns of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation were used to analyse the population genetic structure of southwestern Indian Ocean green turtle (Chelonia mydas) populations. Analysis of sequence variation over 396 bp of the mtDNA control region revealed seven haplotypes among 288 individuals from 10 nesting sites in the Southwest Indian Ocean. This is the first time that Atlantic Ocean haplotypes have been recorded among any Indo-Pacific nesting populations. Previous studies indicated that the Cape of Good Hope was a major biogeographical barrier between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans because evidence for gene flow in the last 1.5 million years has yet to emerge. This study, by sampling localities adjacent to this barrier, demonstrates that recent gene flow has occurred from the Atlantic Ocean into the Indian Ocean via the Cape of Good Hope. We also found compelling genetic evidence that green turtles nesting at the rookeries of the South Mozambique Channel (SMC) and those nesting in the North Mozambique Channel (NMC) belong to separate genetic stocks. Furthermore, the SMC could be subdivided in two different genetic stocks, one in Europa and the other one in Juan de Nova. We suggest that this particular genetic pattern along the Mozambique Channel is attributable to a recent colonization from the Atlantic Ocean and is maintained by oceanic conditions in the northern and southern Mozambique Channel that influence early stages in the green turtle life cycle.
Molecular Ecology (0962-1083) (Blackwell science), 2007 , Vol. 16 , N. 1 , P. 175-186

Droits : 2007 Blackwell
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2007/publication-2185.pdf
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-294X.2006.03122.x
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/2185/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : International audience
AimThe global biodiversity crisis requires the identification of regions with high evolutionary potential, i.e. evolutionary hotspots (evospots). We created an analytical framework based on comparative phylogeography and coalescent methods to assess the dynamics of diversification and population persistence in the reef ecosystem of a little-studied region: the Southwestern Indian Ocean (SWIO).LocationCoral reefs of the SWIO, with comparative data from the Pacific Ocean.MethodsWe generated sequences of mitochondrial DNA (COI and 16S) for 10 widespread brittle-stars (345 specimens) from 21 localities (8 in the SWIO). We analysed them by combining comparative phylogeography approaches, coalescent-based methods, molecular clocks and the concept of evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) to draw conclusions about the drivers of biodiversity in the region.ResultsCryptic diversity was prevalent, increasing lineage diversity within the 10 nominal species by 70% within the SWIO and by 200% across the Indo-West Pacific. All seven new SWIO lineages meet the criteria for ESUs and at least six are biological species. We detected likely intraregional diversifications dating to the Plio-Pleistocene, supporting the SWIO as a generator of biodiversity. Geographical restriction of ESUs, long coalescent times (> 80 ka) and old in situ diversification (> 1 Ma) point to the persistence of populations over multiple glacio-eustatic cycles. We provide data suggesting demographic expansion during sea-level high stands. Regional connectivity was lower, and cryptic differentiation higher in lecithotrophs than in planktotrophs.Main conclusionsThe analytical framework based on a biodiversity survey makes it possible to identify evospots by assessing the potential of a region to maintain and generate biodiversity and by evaluating the evolutionary processes and potential drivers at play.
ISSN: 0305-0270

hal-01369697
http://hal.univ-reunion.fr/hal-01369697
DOI : 10.1111/jbi.12155

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley Open Access
Résumé : International audience
Assessing population connectivity is necessary to construct effective marine protected areas. This connectivity depends, among other parameters, inherently on species dispersal capacities. Isolation by distance (IBD) is one of the main modes of differentiation in marine species, above all in species presenting low dispersal abilities. This study reports the genetic structuring in the tropical hydrozoan Macrorhynchia phoenicea (sensu Postaire et al., 2016a), a brooding species, from 30 sampling sites in the Western Indian Ocean and the Tropical Southwestern Pacific, using 15 microsatellite loci. At the local scale, genet dispersal relied on asexual propagation at short distance, which was not found at larger scales. Considering one representative per clone, significant positive F-IS values (from -0.327*** to 0.411***) were found within almost all sites. Gene flow was extremely low at all spatial scales, among sites within islands (<10km distance) and among islands (100 to >11,000km distance), with significant pairwise F-ST values (from 0.035*** to 0.645***). A general pattern of IBD was found at the Indo-Pacific scale, but also within ecoregions in the Western Indian Ocean province. Clustering and network analyses identified each island as a potential independent population, while analysis of molecular variance indicated that population genetic differentiation was significant at small (within island) and intermediate (among islands within province) spatial scales. As shown by this species, a brooding life cycle might be corollary of the high population differentiation found in some coastal marine species, thwarting regular dispersal at distances more than a few kilometers and probably leading to high cryptic diversity, each island housing independent evolutionary lineages.
ISSN: 2045-7758

hal-01681593
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01681593
DOI : 10.1002/ece3.3236

Éditeur(s) : Inter-Research
Résumé : We studied the foraging rhythms of green sea turtles Chelonia mydas on the seagrass beds of N'Gouja Bay, Mayotte Island (Comoros Archipelago) with acoustic transmitters and moored listening stations. We monitored 8 tagged turtles (4 probable males, 3 probable females and 1 immature), from 70 to 109 cm curved carapace length (CCL), for durations ranging from 5 to 92 d. The turtles exhibited a regular diel pattern: they foraged mainly during the day (on average 87% of seagrass detections were between 06:00 and 18:00 h) and rested on the inner reef slope during the night. Night time feeding activities were observed on the seagrass bed when the night light was high. The presence of turtles on the seagrass bed at night was significantly correlated with a night light index (r = 0.54, p = 0.002), which included both moon light and cloudiness indices. Behaviour of the only immature individual observed was similar to adult turtles, although it rested more frequently around noon. All turtles displayed a high fidelity to 1 foraging site within the seagrass bed. Acoustic transmitters and permanent listening stations are an appropriate technique for long-term behavioural studies of turtles, with no human interaction with turtles during tracking, and represent a suitable technique to assess the possible effects of environmental changes or human activities upon green turtle behaviour.
Marine Ecology Progress Series (0171-8630) (Inter-Research), 2006 , Vol. 306 , P. 295-302

Droits : Inter-Research 2006
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2006/publication-3616.pdf
DOI:10.3354/meps306295
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/3616/

Éditeur(s) : Revue Internationale d'Ichtyologie
Résumé : The ichthyofauna of Reunion Island, Southwestern Indian Ocean, was sampled during several ecological and artisanal fisheries studies. Information from these investigations and from other sources were included to compile the present checklist of the marine fishes of the island. A total of 885 species belonging to 150 families was recorded. Nine species are known only from Reunion, indicating endemism of about 1.0%. The most speciose families (Labridae, Gobiidae, Serranidae, and Pomacentridae) were also among the most speciose at the neighbouring Mauritius Island (except gobiids), and, generally, on other islands in the Indian Ocean area (Maldives, Chagos, Madagascar and Christmas Island). The Gobiidae only represented 5.4% of the ichthyofauna, which was similar to the ratio for Aqaba (Red Sea), contrasting with 8.0% recorded for the Maldives, 13.0% at Chagos or other higher percentages recorded in the Pacific Ocean. The Apogonidae and Scaridae are relatively poorly diversified at Reunion, also in contrast with the Maldives, Madagascar, Chagos, Aqaba (Red Sea) and certain Pacific areas. The recent geological origins of Reunion Island and the low diversity of its marine biotopes are probably the most significant factors explaining both the total species richness and species richness of some major families.
L'ichtyofaune de l'île de La Réunion a été étudiée au cours de plusieurs travaux portant sur l'écologie des poissons et sur les pêcheries artisanales. Les informations issues de ces études, ainsi que d'autres sources, ont été compilées dans la présente liste des poissons marins de l'île. Un total de 885 espèces appartenant à 150 familles est recensé. Neuf espèces ne sont connues que de La Réunion, indiquant un endémisme proche de 1,0%. Les familles les plus diversifiées (Labridae, Gobiidae, Serranidae et Pomacentridae) sont aussi parmi les plus diversifiées à l'île Maurice voisine (à l'exception des Gobiidae), ainsi que dans d'autres îles de l'océan Indien (Maldives, Chagos, Madagascar et Christmas). Les Gobiidae ne représentent que 5,4% de l'ichtyofaune totale, ce qui est semblable à ce qui est connu à Aqaba (mer Rouge), mais contraste avec les 8,0% trouvés aux Maldives, les 13,0% trouvés aux Chagos ou d'autres pourcentages élevés dans l'océan Pacifique. Les Apogonidae et les Scaridae sont relativement peu diversifiés à La Réunion, ce qui contraste également avec ce qui est connu des Maldives, Madagascar, Chagos, la mer Rouge et certaines régions de l'océan Pacifique. Le jeune âge géologique de l'île et la faible diversité de ses biotopes marins pourraient être parmi les facteurs les plus importants pouvant expliquer la faible richesse spécifique totale et la richesse spécifique de certaines familles.
CYBIUM (0399-0974) (Revue Internationale d'Ichtyologie), 2004-03 , Vol. 28 , N. 3 , P. 199-216

Droits : 2004 Société Française d'Ichtyologie
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2004/publication-713.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/713/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD PeerJ
Résumé : International audience
The tiger shark Galeocerdo cuvier (Carcharhinidae) is a large elasmobranch suspected to have, as other apex predators, a keystone function in marine ecosystems and is currently considered Near Threatened (Red list IUCN). Knowledge on its ecology, which is crucial to design proper conservation and management plans, is very scarce. Here we describe the isolation of eight polymorphic microsatellite loci using 454 GS-FLX Titanium pyrosequencing of enriched DNA libraries. Their characteristics were tested on a population of tiger shark (n = 101) from Reunion Island (SouthWestern Indian Ocean). All loci were polymorphic with a number of alleles ranging from two to eight. No null alleles were detected and no linkage disequilibrium was detected after Bonferroni correction. Observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.03 to 0.76 and from 0.03 to 0.77, respectively. No locus deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and the global F IS of the population was of 0.04 NS. Some of the eight loci developed here successfully cross-amplified in the bull shark Carcharhinus leucas (one locus), the spinner shark Carcharhinus brevipinna (four loci), the sandbar shark Carcharhinus plumbeus (five loci) and the scalloped hammerhead shark Sphyrna lewini (two loci). We also designed primers to amplify and sequence a mitochondrial marker, the control region. We sequenced 862 bp and found a low genetic diversity, with four polymorphic sites, a haplotype diversity of 0.15 and a nucleotide diversity of 2 × 10 −4 .
ISSN: 2167-8359

hal-01317961
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01317961
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01317961/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01317961/file/Pirog_2016PeerJ_microsat_tiger_shark.pdf
DOI : 10.7717/peerj.2041