Seascape genomics of the pink abalone (Haliotis corrugata): An insight into a cross-border species in the northeast Pacific coast.

This article focuses on the seascape genomics of the pink abalone (Haliotis corrugata) across its distribution from southern California, United States, to the Baja California Peninsula (BCP), Mexico, to understand how geographic and environmental factors shape its neutral and adaptive genetic structure. Using double-digest RAD sequencing (ddRADseq) on 203 samples from 13 locations, the study identified two neutral genetic populations corresponding to California and BCP, with gene flow primarily southward influenced by ocean currents rather than isolation by distance. Adaptive genetic analyses revealed two distinct groups within the BCP, separated near Punta Eugenia, correlating with differences in maximum sea surface temperature and matching marine ecoregions, suggesting local adaptation to thermal gradients. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating both neutral and adaptive genomic data into binational fisheries management and conservation strategies, especially under climate change pressures, and suggest revising administrative zones and expanding marine reserves to support the species' resilience.