Editorial

Abstract

[...] The featured article in this issue of Scientia Marina is “Loss of genetic variability in a hatchery strain of Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) revealed by sequence data of the mitochondrial DNA control region and microsatellite markers” by P. Sánchez, J. Viñas, J.R. Alvarado Bremer, P.P. Ambrosio and R. Flos. This paper illustrates the role of genetic comparisons between different wild populations and a hatchery population of fish using mitochondrial and nuclear markers. First, it reveals significant genetic differentiation between Atlantic and Mediterranean populations. Second, it reports loss of genetic diversity in the captive population. Third, it provides evidence of high variance in reproductive success among females, suggesting that this variance can explain most of the genetic variability lost. Overall, the study highlights the need for accurate knowledge of the genetic composition of farmed stocks to maintain them in culture and for future restocking. This issue of Scientia Marina also includes a mini-review article which addresses the important question of whether coral reefs will be able to adapt or acclimate to global changes, particularly to global warming and ocean acidification. [...] In his article, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, a leading marine biologist specialized on the impact of global warming and climate change on coral reefs, argues that, given the current rate and scale of anthropogenic climate change, coral reefs will not be able to keep pace with it [...]