Evaluation of the genetic diversity and population structure of Johngarthia lagostoma (H. Milne Edwards, 1837) estimated by SSR

• Grant number: 17/23136-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2018
• End date: December 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Fishery Resources and Fishery Engineering - Marine Fishing Resources
• Principal Investigator: Fabíola Cristina Ribeiro de Faria
• Grantee: Maria Catarina de Alencar
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria Acadêmica. Universidade de Mogi das Cruzes (UMC). Campus da Sede Mogi das Cruzes. Mogi das Cruzes , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The yellow crab, Johngarthia lagostoma occurs only in islands, being in Brazil in Atol das Rocas (Rio Grande do Norte), Archipelago of Fernando de Noronha (Pernambuco), islands of Trindade and Martim Vaz (Espírito Santo) and Ascension British island in the South Atlantic Ocean. This crustacean presents its young and adults with typically terrestrial habit, the adults go to the sea only for the release of the larvae in the reproductive period, have a larval stage that lasts about 20 days, until the juveniles return to the coast and recolonize the earth. The status of the species is worrying, as it currently competes directly with introduced species and the native vegetation of its habitat has increasingly diminished leading to a marked environmental change that is still ongoing, stating that there is evidence of a decline in numbers of individuals over the years, which is categorized as "Endangered (EN)", according to the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio). It is necessary to carry out genetic studies that can provide more evidence to aid in these discussions about the species. Therefore, to evaluate the genetic diversity of the species in question, where currently, within the different molecular markers, the microsatellites are the most used, it is of the utmost importance because, thus, questions can be answered to determine the distribution of these populations and to provide subsidies for projects with the management of the species for its conservation. (AU)