Genetic disturbance of the endangered Japanese aucha perch, Coreoperca kawamebari, in Tokushima Prefecture

Abstract

Seven primer pairs based on microsatellite regions with high polymorphism and Mendelian inheritance were developed to manage the genetic conservation of the endangered Japanese aucha perch, Coreoperca kawamebari. The genetic diversity and presence or absence of genetic disturbance of Japanese aucha perch in Tokushima Prefecture were evaluated. The allelic richness was less than 2.0 among 10 populations, showing the low genetic diversity of C. kawamebari in the prefecture. Genetic structure analysis showed that most of the individuals from the Minami River, a tributary of the Naka River in Tokushima Prefecture, were not from rivers in Tokushima Prefecture, but included individuals from Okayama and Hiroshima Prefectures. We conclude that the Minami River population suffered a serious genetic disturbance with the artificial introduction of individuals from other areas. Based on the results of the genetic diversity analysis, we have made recommendations for the conservation of C. kawamebari in Tokushima Prefecture.