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Populations and species are threatened by human pressure, but their fate is variable. Some depleted populations, such as that of the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris), recover rapidly even when the surviving population was small. The northern elephant seal was hunted extensively and taken by collectors between the early 1800s and 1892, suffering an extreme population bottleneck as a consequence. Recovery was rapid and now there are over 200,000 individuals. We sequenced 260 modern and 8 historical northern elephant seal nuclear genomes to assess the impact of the population bottleneck on individual northern elephant seals and to better understand their recovery. Here we show that inbreeding, an increase in the frequency of alleles compromised by lost function, and allele frequency distortion, reduced the fitness of breeding males and females, as well as the performance of adult females on foraging migrations. We provide a detailed investigation of the impact of a severe bottleneck on fitness at the genomic level and report on the role of specific gene systems.

This study reports on a new translocated population of the Western Greece Goby (Economidichthys pygmaeus Holly, 1929) within the Thrace freshwater ecoregion in Northeastern Greece, approximately 370 km east of the species' native range (Ionian freshwater ecoregion; Western Greece). Specimens were identified by morphological examination and molecular confirmation. Based on a literature review and anecdotal information the Western Greece Goby was possibly introduced within the last two to five years, perhaps associated with fish farm imports from Western Greece. Population characteristics of the species in the new locations indicate that the species is fully established within an important biodiversity hotspot, the Aggitis sub-basin of the Strymon River, a transboundary river shared with Greece, Bulgaria and North Macedonia. This record represents the easternmost range expansion of the Western Greece Goby. In addition, it confirms a noticeable trend of expansion of this species since it has been also documented in the Southeastern Adriatic (Albania, North Macedonia) and the Western Aegean (southern Greece) during the last decade. This introduction may trigger ecological consequences, including the homogenization of formerly isolated ichthyofaunas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this review we propose the use of telomeric length (TL) as an authenticity marker that could provide an alternative method for differentiating fish and seafood samples or detecting fraud. Considering the ever-growing number of incidents of economically motivated fish and seafood adulteration using even more sophisticated methods to overcome current authenticity markers, the need to identify novel authenticity markers becomes essential. The TL of fish and seafood depends on individual characteristics (e.g., sex, age) and the environmental stimuli (e.g., temperature, water quality) to which these are exposed. Hence, both wild marine and freshwater populations occupying different geographical origin habitats might differ substantially because of the environmental cues affecting them. Moreover, the implementation of various rearing practices in aquaculture, such as different levels of fish and seafood density and increased ambient noise combined with site-specific environmental cues could affect TL, providing regulatory authorities with valuable information by distinguishing wild from reared populations and organic from conventional ones. In the present review the effects of both the environmental conditions and individual characteristics on the telomeric stability of fish and seafood telomeres are discussed, suggesting TL as a potential prospect authenticity marker that could be used to prevent fish and seafood adulteration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fishery-independent survey with a commercial bottom otter trawl was conducted in the Pagasitikos Gulf, a semi-enclosed, trawl-restricted gulf in Greece. The study aimed to ecologically assess the fishery communities that are experiencing a decline in fishery landings. Twelve hauls of 30 min duration each were conducted in the eastern, western, and central parts of the gulf at depths between 62 and 97 m. In total, 57 species were captured, with the highest species number recorded in the west (35 species), followed by the center (32 species) and east (29 species). The highest numerical abundance was recorded at the center, followed by the east and west, with an opposing trend exhibited for biomass; however, GLM detected no significant spatial differences (in area or depth) or interaction. Ecological indices exhibited significantly lower values in the west–east area comparison. Linear Discriminant Analysis, mMDS, and hierarchical clustering indicated the presence of two main groups (east and west), with PERMANOVA showing a significant difference in the demersal communities among the identified groups. The results indicated moderately disturbed demersal communities and an increasing level of disturbance from east to west. Considering the economic value of Pagasitikos to the local fishing community, additional fishery management measures are deemed necessary to protect the fishery resources and mitigate the potential risks of overexploitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Admixture and hybridization may play a key role in population dynamics and speciation with respect to habitat, demographic history, and adaptive selection. The present study examines the genetic diversity of two congeneric—but in different subgenera—holothurians that live in sympatry in mixed populations. Strong evidence of admixture was provided by analyzing RAD sequencing data from 90 and 67 individuals of Holothuria (Holothuria) tubulosa and Holothuria (Roweothuria) poli, respectively, from various areas of the Hellenic Seas (eastern Mediterranean). Coalescent demographic analysis revealed a recent directional gene flow from H. poli to H. tubulosa. The two species populations diverged around 13.5 thousand years ago, just after the Last Glacial Maximum. According to the pairwise sequential Markovian coalescent approach, the historical population effective sizes for both species declined during the last Pleistocene glaciations, probably due to population decline, followed by a relative rapid recovery as it is calculated using LD methods. The presented results imply a role for admixture upon secondary contact and are consistent with the recent suggestion that the genomic underpinning of ecological speciation often has an older, allopatric origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The red porgy (Pagrus pagrus) and the common dentex (Dentex dentex) are Sparidae species of high commercial value, traded in the Greek market. In some cases, fish species identification from Greek fisheries is difficult for the consumer due to the strong morphological similarities with their imported counterparts or closely related species such as Pagrus major, Pagrus caeroleustictus, Dentex gibbosus and Pagellus erythrinus, especially when specimens are frozen, filleted or cooked. Techniques based on DNA sequencing, such as COI barcoding, accurately identify species substitution incidents; however, they are time consuming and expensive. In this study, regions of mtDNA were analyzed with RFLPs, multiplex PCR and HRM in order to develop a rapid method for species identification within the Sparidae family. HRM analysis of a 113 bp region of cytb and/or a 156 bp region of 16s could discriminate raw or cooked samples of P. pagrus and D. dentex from the aforementioned closely related species and P. pagrus specimens sampled in the Mediterranean Sea when compared to those fished in the eastern Atlantic. HRM analysis exhibited high accuracy and repeatability, revealing incidents of mislabeling. Multiple samples can be analyzed within three hours, rendering this method a useful tool in fish fraud monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: As a tool for stock identification the body morphology and the free amino acid (FAA) profile variability were determined among farmed rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum 1792) from different geographical areas throughout Greece, using geometric morphometrics and Reversed Phase‐High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography. Significant intraspecific body shape variation was detected among the fish stocks of different origin. Canonical Variate Analysis distinguished populations into two groups being consistent to a great extent with a previous population genetics study. General linear models did not support an association of haplotypes and diet with shape. However, shape was significantly correlated with origin, water temperature, geological‐chemical‐climatic zones, histidine and arginine. Therefore, morphological variation was primarily driven by environmentally induced differences among these zones being the result of phenotypic plasticity. Environmental cues and rearing conditions played the pivotal role in comparison to broodstock origin. Specimens presented different FAA profiles depending on their geographical origin. Principal Component Analysis showed a division between eastern and western Greece which might be owed to the existence of climatic fluctuations affecting the abiotic factors. This combined approach offers an important tool for stock identification thus assisting environmental risk assessments in evaluation of potential ecological effects and fostering research excellence in sustainable aquaculture management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myxozoans are metazoan parasites which are highly pathogenic in commercially important fish, particularly in aquaculture. Enteromyxosis is an economically significant disease caused by the myxosporean parasite Enteromyxum leei. Presently, early diagnosis of enteromyxosis in sharpsnout seabream was achieved by monitoring fish on a time-scale scheduled basis in combination with a validated molecular diagnostic technique. Two different successive fish batches of a commercial fish farm were monitored starting from the first month of on-growing in sea cages until fish reached commercial size. Fish weight and water temperature differentially ranged between them. E. leei detection was performed both by classical microscopic observation of fresh smears and by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) while prevalence, mean intensity and mortality rate were calculated. In total, 520 fish were screened; 320 from the first batch and 200 from the second one. Parasitosis illustrated a seasonal occurrence pattern (spring and summer). When qPCR was used as a diagnostic method, enteromyxosis was diagnosed earlier with more increased prevalence compared to the microscopic observation. In this case, the parasite was detected at the lowest water temperature that has ever been recorded (14.7 °C), during the first month of on-growing in sea cages. The two-factor combination of water temperature and fish weight proved to be the most significant factor that could determine the emergence and development of parasitosis and smaller fish proved to be more susceptible. Mortality was influenced by both prevalence and intensity of parasitosis. An earlier diagnosis and identification of all developmental stages of the parasite throughout its life cycle was verified with qPCR, significantly before any outbreak occurred. The latter could become a key diagnostic tool for the control of enteromyxosis, allowing stakeholders and fish farmers to adopt all necessary precautionary measures minimizing economic loss in sharpsnout seabream intensive farming. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]