Funded
Click to see projects by theme, goal or target:
- Objectives
- Determine whether bigeye and skipjack tuna from discrete areas of the Pacific Ocean show significant genetic heterogeneity
- Background
- Genetic studies can be used to evaluate and validate the results of tagging experiments
- Modern genetic analyses can be used to assess genetic heterogeneity between tropical tuna stocks
- Data from tagging experiments and genetic studies can inform spatiallystructured stock assessments
- Relevance for management
- Spatially-structured stock assessments based on geographically-explicit life history parameters will provide a more accurate basis for the staff’s management advice
- Duration
- 5 years (2017-2021)
- Workplan and status
- 2017-2019: Tissue samples from the Pacific and other oceans processed at CSIRO using genotyping and sequencing techniques
- 2018-2021: Analyses of genetic data at CSIRO with software specifically designed for uncovering and evaluating genetic heterogeneity in population structure
- 2022: Some sample cross contamination identified during analyses and resampling efforts began during Q4:2022
- 2022: Manuscript in preparation on assessment of skipjack population structure from samples from Indian Ocean, western and eastern Pacific.
- 2022: Manuscript in preparation on assessment of bigeye population structure from samples from western, central, and eastern Pacific
- External collaborators
- CSIRO, Hobart, Australia
- Deliverables
- Relevant information on population structure of bigeye and skipjack tunas in the Pacific for informing future stock assessments
- Manuscripts for publication in scientific journals
- Updated date: 01 Dec 2022
- Progress summary for the reporting period
- CSIRO processed additional tissue samples from the Pacific Ocean
- CSIRO conducted updated analyses of genetic data sets, including additional tissue samples Interpretation of results is being finalized
- CSIRO identified deficiencies in some EPO samples and resampling efforts have begun
- Challenges and key lessons learnt
- Collections, processing, and analyses of suitable numbers of tissue samples for assessing population structure of tunas takes considerable time and effort.
- Preparations of manuscripts describing population structure of bigeye and skipjack tunas takes considerably longer than anticipated
- Samplers need to be cautious to avoid issues with sample contamination.
- Manuscripts in preparation on Pacific-wide population structure of bigeye and skipjack tuna