Integrated analyses of SNP-genotype and environmental data in a continuously distributed snapper species (<i>Lutjanus johnii</i>, Bloch, 1792) reveals a mosaic of populations and a challenge for sustainable management

Abstract Understanding population structure is important for predicting the outcomes of anthropogenic development, harvest, and environmental change on abundance fisheries species. Logically, use several data sources best delineating structure, but combining across types adds extra challenges as results can be incongruent. Here, genetic markers were used to test hypotheses about in a collection 523 tropical inshore finfish (Lutjanus johnii) northern Australia from 20 locations. Redundancy analyses (RDA) statistically correlations among providing basis reconciliation insights into ecological evolutionary processes. Genomic (10349 SNP loci) revealed low, significant divergence (max FST 0.0402) between 16 A total 12 putative contiguous biological stocks proposed whose distributions correlated with IMCRA bioregions not existing regions management fishery. RDA showed correlation (otolith chemistry parasite abundances) genotype two three region-wide supporting stock suggesting that L. johnii may locally adapted heterogeneous environment. These findings are conservation commercially recreationally guide future actions.