Evaluación de las poblaciones de Bovichtus argentinus en el intermareal rocoso de la Patagonia : un enfoque morfométrico para el manejo

Abstract

The study of fish populations is essential for understanding their responses to environmental pressures, species conservation, and the sustainable management of marine ecosystems. Bovichtus argentinus is a poorly studied benthic species that inhabits the rocky intertidal zone of the Argentine Sea, with a distribution ranging from Mar del Plata to Tierra del Fuego. Its population structure and connectivity along the Patagonian coast have not yet been characterized, which hinders its management and conservation. This study analyzes the population structure of Bovichtus argentinus along the Argentine Patagonian coast through otolith morphometry, aiming to identify possible population differentiations along a latitudinal gradient. Samples were collected from five localities, from El Espigón (41º S) to Comodoro Rivadavia (45º S), capturing 125 individuals from the low intertidal zone using hand seines. Their sagitta otoliths were extracted and analyzed through classical and geometric morphometry, using shape indices, Fourier descriptors, and wavelet coefficients. To assess population differences, multivariate statistical analyses were applied, including Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) and PERMANOVA. The results revealed significant morphological differences in the otoliths between the studied localities, indicating the possible existence of at least two differentiated populations. One of these groups includes individuals from El Espigón, Las Grutas, Playas Doradas, and Playa Magagna, while the other corresponds to fish from Comodoro Rivadavia. This differentiation could be related to oceanographic and biogeographic factors, such as the influence of the Patagonian Current, the physical characteristics of the abrasion platforms, and tidal dynamics in each area. The observed differentiation highlights the importance of otoliths as a tool in identifying stocks and managing marine resources.