A Possibility of Spawning Ground of Pacific Mackerel (Scomber japonicus) in the mid-east Yellow Sea, Korea

Abstract

In order to find a possibility of spawning ground of Scomber japonicus in the mid-east Yellow Sea, we sampled the fish eggs and larvae in late June 2008, and late July and early September 2009. The specimens of eggs and larvae to be estimated Scomber species by the morphological characteristics was tested using the partial ND5 mtDNA. The genetic variations within and among Scomber species was analyzed using the ND5 sequences data from the adult specimens and NCBI/GenBank composed of S. japonicus, S. australasicus, S. colias, and S. scombrus. The ND5 genetic diversity among the four Scomber species was higher than those of within each Scomber species. The 6 of species specific single nucleotide polymorphisms were found in 585 bp ND5 sequences. The ND5 marker was a useful for identifying the Scomber fish eggs and larvae,to the species level. S. japonicus eggs and larvae identified using the ND5 molecular marker were found in the mid-east Yellow Sea in June and July. It means that the mid-east Yellow Sea should be used as a spawning ground of S. japonicus. In addition, the geographical distribution patterns of 5. japonicus larvae from 1965 to 2010 off Korean Peninsula showed that their main distribution area was between Cheju Island and the Korea Strait in May, where was corresponded with those of spawning ground and time to be estimated from the catch statics and gonadosomatic index of adultimated Scomber species by the morphological characteristics was tested using the partial ND5 mtDNA. The genetic variations within and among Scomber species was analyzed using the ND5 sequences data from the adult specimens and NCBI/GenBank composed of S. japonicus, S. australasicus, S. colias, and S. scombrus. The ND5 genetic diversity among the four Scomber species was higher than those of within each Scomber species. The 6 of species specific single nucleotide polymorphisms were found in 585 bp ND5 sequences. The ND5 marker was a useful for