Genetic variation among populations and species of groupers and coralgroupers (Osteichthyes: Serranidae: Epinephelinae)

I assessed variability at a portion of the cytochrome b mitochondrial (mtDNA) gene at two taxonomic scales in the groupers and related sea basses (subfamily Epinephelinae, tribe Epinephelini). Intraspecific variation in a grouper (the rock hind Epinephelus adscensionis) and a related outgroup species (the greater soapfish Rypticus saponaceous ) clustered into distinct phylogeographic units with boundaries concordant to some biogeographic provinces. The intraspecific study indicated that pelagic larval duration (PLD) and faunal boundaries may only partially determine the limits of gene flow in western Atlantic serranids, and that historical patterns may be important in determining haplotype distribution. To elucidate these historical patterns, a comparison among species of groupers was made at both the cytochrome b gene and a noncoding nuclear intron. Although both mtDNA and nuclear data were concordant in some issues, the LDHA6 intron was not useful in phylogenetic reconstruction of tribal relationships. The grouper tribe Epinephelini was not a monophyletic group in the mtDNA gene genealogy, because of the insertion of other families and subfamilies between the coralgroupers (Plectropomus and Variola) and other grouper genera. These data are concordant with other mtDNA loci and with previously described patterns of larval morphology. Taxonomic revisions to the Epinephelini are suggested.