Philippines PIRE Project: Population Genetics and Conservation of Atherinomorus duodecimalis

Following the Spanish-American War the US government sent a research vessel, the “USS Albatross” to the Philippines to conduct marine resource surveys. Thousands of specimens were collected between 1907 and 1910. One such specimen, the tropical silverside Atherinomorus duodecimalis, has a tropical Indo-West Pacific range that covers the Coral Triangle. 256 specimens, which were collected across seven different locations by this research vessel, were utilized in this study. Additionally, 197 contemporary specimens were collected in two of these same locations over the past two years. The genetic population structure was studied between these locations both spatially and temporally, in order to determine connectivity. These two sites are separated by the Sibuyan Sea, which contains multiple significant currents. These currents present strong barriers to gene flow and have significantly promoted genetic differentiation between specimens at these two sites over time. The genetic differentiation and adaptation of this species over the last hundred years could provide important insights into evolution and the future of biodiversity in the Coral Triangle. This is the first study to examine a species of fish over a time span of over one hundred years utilizing genetic techniques.