Population genomic dynamics of mesopelagic lanternfishes Diaphus dumerilii, Lepidophanes guentheri, and Ceratoscopelus warmingii (Family: Myctophidae) in the Gulf of Mexico

Assessing the impacts of Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DWHOS) on deep-sea fish assemblages Gulf Mexico (GOM) has been hindered by an absence baseline (pre-spill) data concerning population genetic dynamics these fishes. The lanternfishes (Myctophidae) are a speciose, yet understudied, taxonomic group, that comprise significant portion global biomass, making them integral members meso- and bathy-pelagic food webs. Herein, we used genomic approach (double digest restriction site associated DNA sequencing) to investigate temporal three species within northern GOM in region spill: Ceratoscopelus warmingii (N = 65, SNP 1804), Diaphus dumerilii 42, 2577), Lepidophanes guentheri 44, 3462). Fishes were sampled 2011, then again 2015, 2016, genotyped using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) markers. An additional 22 C. samples collected 2014 from western North Atlantic assess connectivity between two regions. Overall, all characterized low levels diversity high inbreeding coefficients, (C. L. guentheri), little (if any) evidence structure was found waters. Conversely, intra-GOM for D. dumerilii, highlighting need more robust survey fishes understand how populations may respond future environmental perturbations. In addition, also sub-populations Atlantic; with mixture co-occurring Atlantic. Given potential perturbations caused expanding gas extraction climate change mesopelagic communities, rigorous assessments required safeguard resilience this functionally important group