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Fishing stocks and demographic history of sardines

How does environmental variability and exploitation impact the demography of a sardine species?

BACKGROUND

Understanding the genetic diversity of species is crucial for conservation, especially with human activities impacting the still unknown marine biodiversity. To better manage and conserve exploited marine species, it is relevant to understand how many independent lineages exist, and what is their demographic history. With the Sardines project, we addressed these on a sardine species of the genus Harengula, which is yet undescribed but already overexploited, causing lack of clarity and conflicts in conservation measures.


QUESTIONS

By using both habitat modeling and genetic studies,we answer:

  1. How have temporal and spatial changes in habitat suitability constrained the distribution of Harengula sp.?

  2. How did these changes affect the divergence and gene flow within Harengula sp.?

  3. What is the magnitude and direction of gene flow between independent lineages?

  4. What is the demographic history of each lineage of Harengula sp. after the population split?

  5. Was the recent demographic history affected by human exploitation?

IMPLICATIONS

By an integrative approach using ecological niche modeling, genomic data, and demographic modeling, we provide data to support better management strategies focused on the sustainable fishing of this species.

TEAM

POTENTIAL BACHELOR/MASTERS PROJECTS

There will be no more theses associated with this project.

Finished

Project Status

No

Recruiting?

2

Project Publications

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