Population Genetics of Aquatic Animals

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2027 | Viewed by 3412

Editor


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Guest Editor
CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bioresources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
Interests: population genetics; giogeography; evolutionary genomics; marine biodiversity

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will focus on the latest advances in ​​population genetics​​ as applied to ​​aquatic animals​​, with the aim of understanding genetic diversity, evolutionary processes, and adaptation mechanisms in economically and ecologically important aquatic species. With the rapid development of next-generation sequencing (NGS), high-throughput genotyping, and bioinformatics tools, significant progress has been made in uncovering population structure, gene flow, selection signatures, and adaptive genetic variation in aquatic organisms.

This Special Issue invites ​​original research articles, reviews, and methodological studies​​ that explore the following topics: genetic diversity and population dynamics of aquatic species; impacts of environmental and anthropogenic factors on genetic variation and conservation genetics; and applications of population genomics in aquaculture breeding and management.

By highlighting cutting-edge research, this Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive platform for scientists, conservationists, aquaculture professionals, and policymakers to share their knowledge of aquatic population genetics that will support sustainable management and breeding practices in aquatic ecosystems.

Dr. Xin Wang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • population genetics
  • aquatic animals
  • population structure
  • adaptation
  • conservation genetics
  • aquaculture
  • genetic diversity

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 16090 KB  
Article
Comparative Mitogenomics of Meiacanthus Blennies Reveals Venom System Evolution and Adaptive Traits
by Tengda Luo, Haiyan Yu, Weilin Xiao, Boqiong Wu, Zixuan Liu, Yuqing Tang, Qiang Lin and Yanhong Zhang
Animals 2026, 16(15), 2315; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16152315 - 27 Jul 2026
Viewed by 391
Abstract
Meiacanthus is a genus of nemophine blennies with an oral venom system, which includes buccal venom glands and canine fangs, and its evolutionary origin remains poorly understood. Here, we sequenced complete mitochondrial genomes of Meiacanthus species and their closely related non-venomous species, and [...] Read more.
Meiacanthus is a genus of nemophine blennies with an oral venom system, which includes buccal venom glands and canine fangs, and its evolutionary origin remains poorly understood. Here, we sequenced complete mitochondrial genomes of Meiacanthus species and their closely related non-venomous species, and performed comparative genomic and phylogenetic analyses to explore Meiacanthus’ evolution. Phylogenetic reconstruction identified Meiacanthus as sister to the (Aspidontus + Petroscirtes) clade, and suggested a probable three-step evolutionary sequence for its oral venom system. Codon usage bias analysis revealed that both natural selection and nucleotide mutations influence nemophine codon usage, shaping a bias that likely plays a crucial role in translational efficiency and regulating mitochondrial gene function. We also identified a unique nemophine tRNA-Cys (GCA) with a degraded DHU loop, which is prompted to be associated with a corresponding shift in codon usage preference. Additionally, all mitochondrial protein-coding genes of Meiacanthus except Cytb exhibited positive selection, with ND4 and ND5 having positively selected sites, likely linked to elevated energy demands for toxin synthesis. Our findings provide the first mitogenomic evidence illuminating the evolutionary pathway of the oral venom system in Meiacanthus, offering crucial insights into the evolution of oral venom systems in non-tetrapod vertebrates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Population Genetics of Aquatic Animals)
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13 pages, 1556 KB  
Article
Recurrent Alternate Parthenogenesis in the Common Smooth-Hound Shark (Mustelus mustelus) with Additional Cases and Further Evidence for a Putative Adaptive Reproductive Strategy
by Simona Sciuto, Giuseppe Esposito, Flavio Gagliardi, Matteo Riccardo Di Nicola, Paolo Pastorino, Nadia Ruiu, Giulia Milanese, Nicole Kube, Oscar Di Santo, Marino Prearo, Pier Luigi Acutis and Silvia Colussi
Animals 2026, 16(10), 1423; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16101423 - 7 May 2026
Viewed by 1732
Abstract
A new case of parthenogenesis in the common smooth-hound shark (Mustelus mustelus), recorded at the Cala Gonone Aquarium (central-eastern Sardinia, Italy) in April 2024, is described as an extension of previous observations. The event involves the production of two offspring originating [...] Read more.
A new case of parthenogenesis in the common smooth-hound shark (Mustelus mustelus), recorded at the Cala Gonone Aquarium (central-eastern Sardinia, Italy) in April 2024, is described as an extension of previous observations. The event involves the production of two offspring originating from a single parthenogenetic reproductive episode, further expanding the available evidence. Genetic analyses excluded paternal contribution, supporting the occurrence of facultative parthenogenesis. The data confirm the recurrence of parthenogenetic reproduction in M. mustelus under captive conditions and document an alternation between two adult females across successive parthenogenetic reproductive events. This recurring pattern supports the hypothesis of a structured reproductive dynamic and suggests the involvement of individual-specific or environmentally mediated factors. These findings contribute to the current understanding of facultative parthenogenesis in elasmobranchs by providing additional empirical evidence across successive reproductive events. The results also offer further insight into the potential adaptive significance of this reproductive mode under conditions of limited mate availability, with implications for the management and conservation of captive populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Population Genetics of Aquatic Animals)
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13 pages, 2308 KB  
Article
New Record of Pipefish from the Coast of Mainland China with Phylogeography and Conservation Insights
by Xin Wang, Hao Luo, Shuaishuai Liu, Zhixin Zhang and Qiang Lin
Animals 2026, 16(8), 1161; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16081161 - 10 Apr 2026
Viewed by 773
Abstract
The evolutionary history and contemporary biogeography jointly shape the genetic architecture of marine species. This study investigates the phylogeny and population genetics of two closely related syngnathid fishes, Trachyrhamphus serratus and Trachyrhamphus longirostris. We report the first record of T. longirostris along [...] Read more.
The evolutionary history and contemporary biogeography jointly shape the genetic architecture of marine species. This study investigates the phylogeny and population genetics of two closely related syngnathid fishes, Trachyrhamphus serratus and Trachyrhamphus longirostris. We report the first record of T. longirostris along the mainland coast of China, with samples collected from Yantai, Kenting, Zhanjiang, and Beihai. Population genetic analyses reveal genetic differentiation within T. longirostris, which exhibits low levels of genetic diversity across all sampled populations compared to T. serratus. The star-like haplotype network and significantly negative neutrality test values collectively indicate a recent population expansion event in T. longirostris. This study offers important insights into the evolutionary dynamics and biogeographic patterning of syngnathid fishes, with clear implications for their conservation and management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Population Genetics of Aquatic Animals)
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