Journal Article

Genomic insights into the population structure and adaptive variation of Mullus barbatus in the Mediterranean Sea

Ivanova, Petya, Cariani, Alessia, Manousaki, Tereza, Spedicato, Maria Teresa, Strazisar, Mojca, Diroma, Maria Angela, Diedericks, Genevieve, Cannas, Rita, Mouton, Alice, Tsaparis, Dimitris, Ferrari, Alice, Mc Cartney, Ann M., Marino, Ilaria AM, Massa, Piergiorgio, De Pooter, Tim, Natali, Chiara, Zane, Lorenzo, Svardal, Hannes, Ciofi, Claudio, Formenti, Giulio, Tsigenopoulos, Costas S., Leitão, Henrique G.

2025

Overview

Background Red mullet ( Mullus barbatus ) is a key species in Mediterranean fisheries, yet its stock structure and population dynamics remain poorly understood due to a lack of comprehensive genomic resources. This study provides the first high-quality reference genome for M. barbatus and a comprehensive set of SNP markers to investigate its population structure and adaptive potential across the Mediterranean. Results Using the newly generated chromosome-level reference genome, we re-analyzed a Mediterranean-wide reduced-representation genomic dataset. Our analysis reveals a panmictic population structure with strong genetic connectivity across the species’ range, likely driven by extensive larval dispersal and multigenerational gene flow. Despite minimal genome-wide differentiation, outlier analysis identified candidate loci under directional selection, linked to key biological processes such as ontogeny and environmental adaptation. Conclusions This study presents the first genomic resource for M. barbatus , providing valuable insights into its genetic structure and adaptive mechanisms. While the identification of loci under selection offers promising leads, these findings are preliminary due to the limited genomic coverage of the dataset. Nonetheless, they pave the way for future genomic studies to explore how M. barbatus adapts to environmental and anthropogenic pressures. These results hold significant implications for the sustainable management of Mediterranean fisheries, especially in the context of climate change and conservation.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Accuracy / Adaptation (Physiology) / Adaptation, Physiological / Adaptation, Physiological - genetics / Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography / Animals / Biological activity / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Climate change / Coasts / Commercial fishing / Datasets / Demersal species / Distribution / Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics / Entomology / Environmental Science (all) / Evolutionary Biology / Fisheries / Fisheries management / Fishing / Gene Flow / Gene loci / Genetic aspects / Genetic connectivity / Genetic structure / Genetic Variation / Genetics & genetic processes / Genetics and Population Dynamics / Genetics, Population / Genome / Genome annotation / Genome assembly / Genomes / Genomic adaptation / Genomic analysis / Genomics / Génétique & processus génétiques / Life Sciences / Mediterranean fisheries / Mediterranean Sea / Mullet / Mullus barbatus / Ontogeny / Outliers (statistics) / Physiological aspects / Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Population biology / Population dynamics / Population genetics / Population structure / Red mullet / Reference genome / Sciences du vivant / Selection, Genetic / Single nucleotide polymorphisms / Single-nucleotide polymorphism / Smegmamorpha / Smegmamorpha - genetics / Sustainability management / Zoologie / Zoology