Abstract:
Pink anemonefish (Amphiprion perideraion) has commercial value as a popular aquarium fish, and due to its
collection from the wild, there are concerns for the conservation of the species. Six polymorphic microsatellites were used to
reveal the population genetic structure of pink anemonefish from three locations (Quang Nam, Khanh Hoa – Ninh Thuan, and
Phu Quoc) in Viet Nam. Analyses showed high levels of gene flow among populations sampled from the South China Sea (FST
= 0.008, P > 0.05). the genetic homogeneity of A. perideraion in this region is likely due to the oceanographic-driven
interaction of pelagic larvae in central waters off Viet Nam. in contrast, the strong genetic structure was evident among the
South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand populations (FST = 0.131 – 0.146, P < 0.000). This high genetic differentiation between
the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand populations suggests that the sustainable management of this species in Viet Nam
needs to be enacted according to indigenous needs as two separate stocks.
