Theses and Dissertations
Date of Award
8-1-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Biology
First Advisor
Carlos E. Cintra Buenrostro
Second Advisor
Erin E. Easton
Third Advisor
Carmen A. Villegas Sánchez
Abstract
This study focuses on Balistes capriscus (Gray Triggerfish), a reef-associated species dependent on hard-bottom habitats in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Using mitochondrial DNA barcoding and phylogenetic analyses, genetic structure across four sites was assessed: Rio Grande Valley (RGV), Veracruz, Chinchorro Bank, and Xahuayxol. Samples from RGV and Veracruz exhibited limited haplotype diversity, minimal nucleotide divergence, and weak genetic differentiation-patterns consistent with recent population expansion and ongoing connectivity within the GOM. While the study centered on B. capriscus, all individuals from Chinchorro and Xahuayxol unexpectedly grouped with Canthidermis maculata (Spotted Oceanic Triggerfish), suggesting misidentification, cryptic diversity, or taxonomic uncertainty in the Mexican Caribbean samples. These Caribbean individuals formed distinct clades which separate from verified B. capriscus, likely indicating they belong to a different species—possibly cryptic taxa arising from hybridization or speciation events, or alternatively, reflecting misidentification in the GenBank repository. Findings may support managing B. capriscus as a single genetic stock in the GOM while emphasizing the importance of accurate species identification and separate consideration for Mexican Caribbean populations.
Recommended Citation
Orive, G. G. (2025). Insights Gained From Applying Molecular Techniques to Gray Triggerfish (Balistes capriscus Gmelin, 1789) in the Mexican Caribbean, the Southern and Northwestern Gulf of Mexico [Master's thesis, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley]. ScholarWorks @ UTRGV. https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/etd/1784
Comments
Copyright 2025 Geaceli Genean Orive. All Rights Reserved. https://proquest.com/docview/3275323055