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Résumé :
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The Saudi Arabian Red Sea coast supports coastal communities that depend heavily on fisheries as a major source of protein, making it important to clarify the genetic connectivity of key exploited species for effective management. In this study, an initial evaluation of the population structure of Scomberomorus commerson – a species of ecological and economic significance – was conducted using mitochondrial DNA markers, including cytochrome b (cyt b) and cytochrome oxidase I (COI). Pectoral fin tissues were obtained from fish sold in markets distributed across the central and southern portions of the Saudi Red Sea coast. A 571-bp fragment of the mtDNA cyt b locus was sequenced from 90 individuals, yielding 12 haplotypes and 10 variable positions, with average haplotype and nucleotide diversities of 0.4677 and 0.0008, respectively. The 635-bp COI segment recovered six haplotypes and six segregating sites, with a corresponding mean haplotype diversity of 0.758 and a nucleotide diversity of 0.0024. These results are consistent with high genetic connectivity among sampled locations along the central and southern Saudi Red Sea coast. Phylogenetic analyses further indicated that the Saudi Red Sea samples formed a cohesive genetic group relative to reference sequences from outside the region. The results from mismatch distribution and neutrality tests were consistent with recent demographic expansion. Overall, the study underscores the importance of coordinated regional management, including mtDNA-based genetic monitoring and broader ecological assessment, to support the long-term sustainability of S. commerson in the Red Sea.
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