Sebastes diaconus

Species of fish

Sebastes diaconus

Scientific classification
Domain:  | Eukaryota
Kingdom:  | Animalia
Phylum:  | Chordata
Class:  | Actinopterygii
Order:  | Scorpaeniformes
Family:  | Scorpaenidae
Genus:  | Sebastes
Species:  |

S. diaconus

Binomial name
Sebastes diaconus

Frable, D. W. Wagman, Frierson, A. Aguilar & Sidlauskas, 2015[1]

Sebastes diaconus, the deacon rockfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Sebastinae, the rockfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae. It is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

## Discovery[edit]

A school of blue rockfish Sebastes mystinus; notice the blotchy side patterning and less visible stripes compared to the deacon rockfish above

Between 2002 and 2004, phylogeographic research on blue rockfish (Sebastes mystinus) identified a distinct genetic subpopulation, which was sampled between Cape Mendocino in northern California and Neah Bay, Washington.[2][3] Subsequent research identified further genetic evidence supporting this distinct subpopulation, as well as demographic differences and evidence for reproductive isolation.[4][5][6] The subpopulation was cited as an example of incipient speciation.[4] In 2015, distinct morphological traits were identified for the northern subpopulation and it was recognized as a distinct species, classified as Sebastes diaconus.[1][7]

## Etymology[edit]

The specific epithet diaconus (deacon) refers to an 'acolyte', which is a reference to the specific epithet of the blue rockfish, mystinus, which means 'priest' in Latin. Like the two species, an acolyte and priest are similar in appearance.[1]

## Description[edit]

The deacon rockfish has been described as a cryptic species that is difficult to distinguish from the blue rockfish.[6] The deacon rockfish however has more visible stripes in its coloration, whereas the blue rockfish has a 'blotchy' color pattern.[1] As such, prior to the formal classification of the species, the deacon rockfish was referred to as the 'blue-sided rockfish' and the blue rockfish was referred to as the 'blue-blotched rockfish'.[1][8] The shape of the mouth and front of the face also differs subtly between the two species, with the deacon rockfish exhibiting a longer lower jaw, which results in an underbite.[1] Under dissection, sexually mature female deacon rockfish also have a small pink or cream colored ovary, whereas mature female blue rockfish have a large orange ovary.[8]

The shape of sagittal otoliths has been found to subtly differ between males and females, which may indicate secondary sexual dimorphism.[9]

## Genetics[edit]

Genetic differences have been identified between male and female deacon rockfish using RAD sequencing.[9] Such differences may reflect the evolution of sex chromosomes in the species or psueuoautosomal regions within the genome (see wider discussion of sex chromosome evolution), or intralocus sexual conflict, although the function and evolutionary significance of these genetic sites is currently uncertain.[9] A potential PCR-RFLP genetic sex marker developed for gopher rockfish[10] does not successfully distinguish male and female deacon rockfish.[11] Further research has identified chromosomes 2 and 12 as the sex chromosomes for deacon rockfish.[12]

## Distribution and habitat[edit]

The deacon rockfish is found on rocky reefs and offshore areas from northern California to southern British Columbia.[1] The species is sympatric with the blue rockfish in northern California and Oregon.[1][3] Female deacon rockfish can exhibit a high level of residency, showing site fidelity to a particular reef and inhabiting a small home range.[13] However, females may relocate depending upon daily and seasonal movement patterns, seasonally occurring hypoxia, and prey preferences for planktonic organisms.[13]

## Ecology[edit]

Deacon rockfish may be adapted to diurnal hunting on small, transparent plankton.[13] Individuals have been found to ingest gelatinous zooplankton such as the colonial tunicates Pyrosoma atlanticum, the hydrozoan Velella velella, and the ctenophore Pleurobrachia bachei, as well as small planktonic crustaceans such as crab zoeae and megalopae and pelagic amphipods.[13]

## Fishing and management[edit]

Deacon rockfish are caught both commercially and recreationally in Oregon.[14] In 2017, the stock assessment for Oregon and California combined deacon rockfish and blue rockfish for management purposes.[8][9] The stock assessment estimated the combined populations in California to have declined rapidly in the 1970s and 1980s to a low point in 1995 and then increased to a point close to the management target.[14] The stocks in Oregon were estimated as having never experienced the same intensity of fishing as in California with spawning biomass remaining above the management target throughout the history of fishing.[14]

In Oregon, nearshore and offshore populations of deacon rockfish are de facto managed as separate stocks in order to comply with wider regulations on Sebastes rockfish fishing, although population genetic evidence does not support this distinction.[9]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h Frable, B.W.; Wagman, D.W.; Frierson, T.N.; Aguilar, A.; Sidlauskas, B.L. (2015). "A new species of Sebastes (Scorpaeniformes: Sebastidae) from the northeastern Pacific, with a redescription of the blue rockfish, S. mystinus (Jordan and Gilbert, 1881)" (PDF). Fishery Bulletin. 113 (4): 355–377. doi:10.7755/fb.113.4.1.
2. ^ Cope, Jascon Marc (2004). Phylodemogaphy of the blue rockfish (Sebastes mystinus) from California to Washington (Master of Science thesis). San Francisco State University.
3. ^ a b Cope, J.M. (2004). "Population genetics and phylogeography of the blue rockfish (Sebastes mystinus) from Washington to California". Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 61 (3): 332–342. doi:10.1139/f04-008.
4. ^ a b Burford, M.O. (2008). "Incipient speciation within a subgenus of rockfish (Sebastosomus) provides evidence of recent radiations within an ancient species flock". Marine Biology. 154 (4): 701–717. doi:10.1007/s00227-008-0963-6. S2CID 84030032.
5. ^ Burford, M.O. (2009). "Demographic history, geographical distribution and reproductive isolation of distinct lineages of blue rockfish (Sebastes mystinus) a marine fish with high dispersal potential". Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 22 (7): 1471–1486. doi:10.1111/j.1420-9101.2009.01760.x. PMID 19467131. S2CID 24774182.
6. ^ a b Burford, M.O.; Carr, M.H.; Bernardi, G. (2011). "Age-structure genetic analysis reveals temporal and geographic variation within and between two cryptic rockfish species". Marine Ecology Progress Series. 442: 201–215. Bibcode:2011MEPS..442..201B. doi:10.3354/meps09329.
7. ^ "Researchers conclude popular rockfish is actually two distinct species". Oregon State University. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
8. ^ a b c Hannah, R.W.; Wagman, D.W.; Kautzi, L.A. (January 2015). Cryptic speciation in the blue rockfish (Sebastes mystinus): age, growth and female maturity of the blue-sided rockfish, a newly identified species, from Oregon waters. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Information Reports 2015-01 (PDF) (Report). Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
9. ^ a b c d e Vaux, Felix; Rasmuson, Leif K.; Kautzi, Lisa A.; Rankin, Polly S.; Blume, Matthew T.O.; Lawrence, Kelly A.; Bohn, Sandra; O'Malley, Kathleen G. (2019). "Sex matters: Otolith shape and genomic variation in deacon rockfish (Sebastes diaconus)". Ecology and Evolution. 9 (23): 13153–13173. doi:10.1002/ece3.5763. PMC 6912905. PMID 31871636.
10. ^ Fowler, Benjamin L.S.; Buonaccorsi, Vincent P. (2016). "Genomic characterization of sex‐identification markers in Sebastes carnatus and Sebastes chrysomelas rockfishes". Molecular Ecology. 25 (10): 2165–2175. doi:10.1111/mec.13594. PMID 26923740.
11. ^ Vaux, Felix; Aycock, Hannah M.; Bohn, Sandra; Rasmuson, Leif K.; O'Malley, Kathleen G. (2020). "Sex identification PCR–RFLP assay tested in eight species of Sebastes rockfish". Conservation Genetics Resources. 12 (4): 541–544. doi:10.1007/s12686-020-01150-y. S2CID 216609309.
12. ^ Sykes, Nathan T.B.; Kolora, Sree Rohit Raj; Sudmant, Peter H.; Owens, Gregory L. (2023). "Rapid turnover and evolution of sex-determining regions in Sebastes rockfishes". Molecular Ecology. 32 (18): 5013–5027. doi:10.1111/mec.17090.
13. ^ a b c d Rasmuson, Leif K.; Blume, Matthew T.O.; Rankin, Polly S. (2021). "Habitat use and activity patterns of female Deacon Rockfish (Sebastes diaconus) at seasonal scales and in response to episodic hypoxia". Environmental Biology of Fishes. 104 (5): 535–553. doi:10.1007/s10641-021-01092-w.
14. ^ a b c Dick, A.J.; Berger, A.; Bizzarro, J.; Bosley, K.; Cope, J.; Field, J.; Gilbert-Horvath, L.; Grunloh, N.; Ivens-Duran, M.; Miller, R.; Privitera-Johnson, K.; Rodomsky, B.T. (January 2018). The combined status of blue and deacon rockfishes in the U.S. waters off California and Oregon in 2017 (Report). Pacific Fishery Management Council. Retrieved 20 April 2020.

## External links[edit]

* Deacon Rockfish, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
* Deacon Rockfish, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
* Meet the Deacon Rockfish, Oregon Marine Reserves

* Data related to Sebastes diaconus at Wikispecies
* Media related to Sebastes diaconus at Wikimedia Commons

* v
* t
* e

Extant Sebastidae species (rockfish)

Adelosebastes|

Adelosebastes latens

Helicolenus|

* Helicolenus alporti
* Helicolenus avius
* Bigeye sea perch (H. barathri)
* Blackbelly rosefish (H. dactylopterus)
* Helicolenus fedorovi
* Hilgendorf's saucord (H. hilgendorfii)
* Helicolenus lahillei
* Helicolenus lengerichi
* Helicolenus mouchezi
* Red gurnard perch (H. percoides)

Hozukius|

* Hozukius emblemarius
* Hozukius guyotensis

Sebastes|

* Rougheye rockfish (S. aleutianus)
* Pacific ocean perch (S. alutus)
* Kelp rockfish (S. atrovirens)
* Brown rockfish (S. auriculatus)
* Aurora rockfish (S. aurora)
* Redbanded rockfish (S. babcocki)
* Sebastes baramenuke
* Shortraker rockfish (S. borealis)
* Silvergray rockfish (S. brevispinis)
* Cape Redfish (S. capensis)
* Gopher rockfish (S. carnatus)
* Copper rockfish (S. caurinus)
* Japanese white seaperch (S. cheni)
* Greenspotted rockfish (S. chlorostictus)
* Black-and-yellow rockfish (S. chrysomelas)
* Dusky rockfish (S. ciliatus)
* Starry rockfish (S. constellatus)
* Cortez rockfish (S. cortezi)
* Darkblotched rockfish (S. crameri)
* Calico rockfish (S. dallii)
* Deacon rockfish (S. diaconus)
* Splitnose rockfish (S. diploproa)
* Greenstriped rockfish (S. elongatus)
* Puget Sound rockfish (S. emphaeus)
* Swordspine rockfish (S. ensifer)
* Widow rockfish (S. entomelas)
* Pink rockfish (S. eos)
* Buccaneer rockfish (S. exsul)
* Atlantic redfish (S. fasciatus)
* Sebastes flammeus
* Yellowtail rockfish (S. flavidus)
* Bronzespotted rockfish (S. gilli)
* Gray rockfish (S. glaucus)
* Chilipepper rockfish (S. goodei)
* Rosethorn rockfish (S. helvomaculatus)
* Squarespot rockfish (S. hopkinsi)
* Sebastes hubbsi
* Sebastes ijimae
* Japanese red seaperch (S. inermis)
* Sebastes iracundus
* Sebastes itinus
* Shortbelly rockfish (S. jordani)
* Sebastes joyneri
* Sebastes kawaradae
* Sebastes kiyomatsui
* Sebastes koreanus
* Freckled rockfish (S. lentiginosus)
* Cowcod (S. levis)
* Sebastes longispinis
* Mexican rockfish (S. macdonaldi)
* Atlantic redfish (S. marinus)
* Quillback rockfish (S. maliger)
* Red bream (S. matsubarae)
* Black rockfish (S. melanops)
* Semaphore rockfish (S. melanosema)
* Blackspotted rockfish (S. melanostictus)
* Blackgill rockfish (S. melanostomus)
* Atlantic redfish (S. mentella)
* Vermilion rockfish (S. miniatus)
* Sebastes minor
* Whitespeckled rockfish (S. moseri)
* Blue rockfish (S. mystinus)
* China rockfish (S. nebulosus)
* Tiger rockfish (S. nigrocinctus)
* Sebastes nivosus
* Red perch (S. norvegicus)
* Sebastes notius
* Sebastes oblongus
* Patagonian redfish (S. oculatus)
* Speckled rockfish (S. ovalis)
* Sebastes owstoni
* Sebastes pachycephalus
* Bocaccio rockfish (S. paucispinis)
* Sebastes peduncularis
* Chameleon rockfish (S. phillipsi)
* Canary rockfish (S. pinniger)
* Northern rockfish (S. polyspinis)
* Redstripe rockfish (S. proriger)
* Grass rockfish (S. rastrelliger)
* Yellowmouth rockfish (S. reedi)
* Rosy rockfish (S. rosaceus)
* Greenblotched rockfish (S. rosenblatti)
* Yelloweye rockfish (S. ruberrimus)
* Flag rockfish (S. rubrivinctus)
* Dwarf-red rockfish (S. rufinanus)
* Bank rockfish (S. rufus)
* Stripetail rockfish (S. saxicola)
* Korean rockfish (S. schlegelii)
* Sebastes scythropus
* Halfbanded rockfish (S. semicinctus)
* Olive rockfish (S. serranoides)
* Treefish (S. serriceps)
* Pinkrose rockfish (S. simulator)
* Blackmouth rockfish (S. sinensis)
* Sebastes spinorbis
* Sebastes steindachneri
* Sebastes swifti
* Ezo seaperch (S. taczanowskii)
* Sebastes thompsoni
* Sebastes trivittatus
* Honeycomb rockfish (S. umbrosus)
* Sebastes variabilis
* Harlequin rockfish (S. variegatus)
* Sebastes varispinis
* Japanese black seaperch (S. ventricosus)
* Norway redfish (S. viviparus)
* Fox jacopever (S. vulpes)
* Sebastes wakiyai
* Pygmy rockfish (S. wilsoni)
* Sharpchin rockfish (S. zacentrus)
* Sebastes zonatus

Sebastiscus|

* Sebastiscus albofasciatus
* False kelpfish (S. marmoratus)
* Sebastiscus tertius

Sebastolobus|

* Shortspine thornyhead (S. alascanus)
* Longspine thornyhead (S. altivelis)
* Broadbanded thornyhead (S. macrochir)

Trachyscorpia|

* Deepsea Scorpionfish (T. carnomagula)
* Trachyscorpia cristulata
* Cape rockfish (T. eschmeyeri)
* Stylish Scorpionfish (T. longipedicula)
* Trachyscorpia osheri
* Ecuadorian Deep-sea Scorpionfish (T. verai)

Taxon identifiers

Sebastes diaconus|

* Wikidata: Q21298154
* Wikispecies: Sebastes diaconus
* FishBase: 68589
* GBIF: 8957040
* NCBI: 2603974
* OBIS: 1384909
* Open Tree of Life: 7650657
* WoRMS: 1384909
* ZooBank: 5D695A80-39DC-4C75-83B6-3B0FD5E0F041

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