Revision of Population genomics of the Lake Tanganyika sprat (Stolothrissa tanganicae) from Thu, 2019-01-10 15:44

Category: 
Pilot project
Acronym: 
PopGenSprat
Coordinator: 
Maarten Van Steenberge (RMCA) & Maarten Vanhove (RBINS)
JEMU partner: 
Carl Vangestel, Massimiliano Virgilio, Zoe De Corte and Gontran Sonet
Project summary: 
The Lake Tanganyika sprat (Stolothrissa tanganicae) and the Lake Tanganyika sardine (Limnothrissa miodon), form the bulk of the lake’s fisheries, which provide a livelihood for tens of thousands of lakeshore fishermen and a cheap source of protein for millions of people in the neighbouring countries. Yet, in spite of their economic and ecological importance, very little is known about the population structure of these species. Hence, it is still unclear whether the fisheries of these two clupeid species should be managed as a single or as a set of distinct units. This is, however, crucial information as the Lake is shared between four different countries, which differ in fisheries practices and in access to domestic and foreign consumers. Hence, the delineation of potential fisheries units would allow us to propose a management plan of the lake’s pelagic fisheries. In this project we will apply next-generation sequencing techniques (RADseq) to investigate potential population structure in the Lake Tanganyika sprat (Stolothrissa tanganicae).
Collaborations: 
Jos Snoeks (RMCA), Joost Raeymaekers and Filip Volckaert (KU Leuven)
Lab work progress: 
RADseq data collection: completed
Data analysis: 
Completed
Starting date: 
2017
Project status: 
Completed

Output:

Peer-reviewed paper:

  • De Keyzer, E.L.R., De Corte, Z., Van Steenberge, M., Raeymaekers, J.A.M., Calboli, F.C.F., Kmentová, N., Sibula Mulimbwa, T.M., Virgilio, M., Vangestel, C., Masilya Mulungula, P., Volckaert, F.A.M. & Vanhove, M.P.M. 2019. First genomic study on Lake Tanganyika sprat Stolothrissa tanganicae: a lack of population structure calls for integrated management of this important fisheries target species. – BMC Evolutionary Biology 19.

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith