Genetic confirmation of Tridacna noae (Röding 1798) in the Cook Islands

Kirby Morejohn; Lara Ainley; Jane Williamson; Ryan Nevatte; Libby Liggins; Vivian R. Cumbo; Michael Gillings

doi:10.1007/s00338-023-02432-1

Genetic confirmation of Tridacna noae (Röding 1798) in the Cook Islands

Kirby Morejohn^*, Lara Ainley, Jane Williamson, Ryan Nevatte, Libby Liggins, Vivian R. Cumbo, Michael Gillings^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Natural Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

61 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Giant clams are common across a broad geographic range and contribute important ecological functions within coral reef environments. However, giant clams are subject to considerable harvest pressure and require careful management that is underpinned by accurate data collection. The taxonomy of giant clams has undergone many changes, and recently, Tridacna noae (Röding 1798) has been resurrected as a valid species, distinct from the morphologically similar Tridacna maxima (Röding 1798). Using genetic analysis, this research confirms the presence of T. noae for the first time in the Cook Islands, extending the currently known distribution of the species by 1340 km south-east. This confirmation highlights that T. noae was possibly previously misidentified, causing overestimations of the abundance of other giant clam species. This new record improves the accuracy of identification and stock assessments, and ongoing management in the Cook Islands.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1343-1350
Number of pages	8
Journal	Coral Reefs
Volume	42
Issue number	6
Early online date	27 Oct 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-023-02432-1
Publication status	Published - Dec 2023

Bibliographical note

Copyright the Crown 2023. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

Keywords

Cardiidae
Cytochrome oxidase 1
Giant clam
Rarotonga
Tridacninae

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10.1007/s00338-023-02432-1

Publisher version (open access)Final published version, 1.64 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Genetic confirmation of Tridacna noae (R{\"o}ding 1798) in the Cook Islands",

abstract = "Giant clams are common across a broad geographic range and contribute important ecological functions within coral reef environments. However, giant clams are subject to considerable harvest pressure and require careful management that is underpinned by accurate data collection. The taxonomy of giant clams has undergone many changes, and recently, Tridacna noae (R{\"o}ding 1798) has been resurrected as a valid species, distinct from the morphologically similar Tridacna maxima (R{\"o}ding 1798). Using genetic analysis, this research confirms the presence of T. noae for the first time in the Cook Islands, extending the currently known distribution of the species by 1340 km south-east. This confirmation highlights that T. noae was possibly previously misidentified, causing overestimations of the abundance of other giant clam species. This new record improves the accuracy of identification and stock assessments, and ongoing management in the Cook Islands.",

keywords = "Cardiidae, Cytochrome oxidase 1, Giant clam, Rarotonga, Tridacninae",

author = "Kirby Morejohn and Lara Ainley and Jane Williamson and Ryan Nevatte and Libby Liggins and Cumbo, {Vivian R.} and Michael Gillings",

note = "Copyright the Crown 2023. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher. ",

year = "2023",

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doi = "10.1007/s00338-023-02432-1",

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AU - Morejohn, Kirby

AU - Ainley, Lara

AU - Williamson, Jane

AU - Nevatte, Ryan

AU - Liggins, Libby

AU - Cumbo, Vivian R.

AU - Gillings, Michael

N1 - Copyright the Crown 2023. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

PY - 2023/12

Y1 - 2023/12

N2 - Giant clams are common across a broad geographic range and contribute important ecological functions within coral reef environments. However, giant clams are subject to considerable harvest pressure and require careful management that is underpinned by accurate data collection. The taxonomy of giant clams has undergone many changes, and recently, Tridacna noae (Röding 1798) has been resurrected as a valid species, distinct from the morphologically similar Tridacna maxima (Röding 1798). Using genetic analysis, this research confirms the presence of T. noae for the first time in the Cook Islands, extending the currently known distribution of the species by 1340 km south-east. This confirmation highlights that T. noae was possibly previously misidentified, causing overestimations of the abundance of other giant clam species. This new record improves the accuracy of identification and stock assessments, and ongoing management in the Cook Islands.

AB - Giant clams are common across a broad geographic range and contribute important ecological functions within coral reef environments. However, giant clams are subject to considerable harvest pressure and require careful management that is underpinned by accurate data collection. The taxonomy of giant clams has undergone many changes, and recently, Tridacna noae (Röding 1798) has been resurrected as a valid species, distinct from the morphologically similar Tridacna maxima (Röding 1798). Using genetic analysis, this research confirms the presence of T. noae for the first time in the Cook Islands, extending the currently known distribution of the species by 1340 km south-east. This confirmation highlights that T. noae was possibly previously misidentified, causing overestimations of the abundance of other giant clam species. This new record improves the accuracy of identification and stock assessments, and ongoing management in the Cook Islands.

KW - Cardiidae

KW - Cytochrome oxidase 1

KW - Giant clam

KW - Rarotonga

KW - Tridacninae

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DO - 10.1007/s00338-023-02432-1

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85174919107

SN - 0722-4028

VL - 42

SP - 1343

EP - 1350

JO - Coral Reefs

JF - Coral Reefs

IS - 6

ER -

Genetic confirmation of Tridacna noae (Röding 1798) in the Cook Islands

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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