泛希姬蝽不同地理种群的遗传多样性和遗传分化

泛希姬蝽Himacerus apterus(Fabricius)是半翅目姬蝽科中重要的天敌种类,本文旨在分析泛希姬蝽不同地理种群的遗传多样性和遗传分化情况。利用COI作为标记基因,使用DnaSP、Arlequin、MEGA等软件分析了中国4个省12个种群33个体的单倍型多样性、遗传结构分化、系统发育等。共发现19个单倍型,所有单倍型中仅H1为共享单倍型,为宁夏和陕西共有,且出现频率最高。总体单倍型多样性指数Hd=0.913,核苷酸多样性指数π=0.006,平均核苷酸差异数k=4.083。Tajima's D=-0.853,P>0.100,表明泛希姬蝽未经过种群扩张。AMOVA分析表明种群内的分子变异大于种群间分子变异,变异比例分别为45.393%和36.594%,遗传分化指数均大于0.250,差异水平极显著。泛希姬蝽不同地理种群遗传多样性较高,宁夏与内蒙古、山西、陕西省分组间存在极度的遗传分化。种群间遗传距离和地理距离无相关性,表明地理距离不是影响种群间遗传距离的重要因素。通过比较4个省采集点的环境特点,认为地区间基因流受限和气温、猎物的差异可能是影响遗传分化的重要因素。     

基于线粒体COI、Cytb和COII基因的中国草地螟不同地理种群遗传分化分析

【目的】揭示中国草地螟Loxostege sticticalis不同地理种群的遗传分化程度。【方法】采用PCR技术扩增中国西北和华北地区草地螟11个地理种群的线粒体 COI, Cytb和COII基因序列,基于其序列变异及单倍型贝叶斯系统发育树和单倍型网络图分析,探讨不同地理种群间的遗传距离、分子系统发生关系及遗传分化程度。【结果】草地螟11个地理种群的线粒体 COI, Cytb和COII基因序列分别有24, 12和69个变异位点(分别占总序列的3.6%, 2.7%和8.8%),检测到的单倍型分别为22, 14和16个,单倍型多样度(Hd)分别为0.7600, 0.5842和0.7341,核苷酸平均差异度(K)分别为1.704, 0.752和3.997,不同单倍型间的遗传距离平均值分别为0.004, 0.005和0.013。总种群的Tajima’s D和Fu’s Fs值皆不显著,表明草地螟不同地理种群间的遗传分化不明显,群体大小稳定。根据各地理种群的单倍型建立的系统发育树和单倍型网络图表明,各单倍型散布在不同的地理种群中,无明显的地理分布格局。【结论】草地螟各地理种群的遗传距离与地理距离间不具有显著的相关性,其遗传分化不明显。     

基于线粒体COI序列变异的高原鼢鼠种群遗传分化研究

基于线粒体COI基因序列对高原鼢鼠7个地理种群的遗传多样性、遗传分化和基因流进行分析,158条COI基因序列中发现了570个变异位点,界定了54个COI单倍型。总体单倍型多样性指数Hd为0.911,种群单倍型多样性在0.278—0.964之间,高原鼢鼠的种群遗传多样性较高。群体总的遗传分化系数Fst为0.611,群体间的基因流Nm在-0.020—3.700之间,部分地理种群之间的遗传分化程度高,基因流弱。AMOVA分子变异分析显示,高原鼢鼠的遗传变异主要来自种群之间(77.56%),种群内部的遗传变异较低(22.44%)。中性检验(P0.01)与错配分析显示高原鼢鼠种群经历了群体扩张事件。IBD未检测到地理距离与种群间遗传距离的显著性相关关系(R2=0.124,P=0.118)。综合分析认为,高原鼢鼠不同地理种群间遗传分化的原因除地理隔离外,还与迁移扩散方式、进化过程和其他环境因素有关。     

基于线粒体COI基因序列的大豆食心虫中国东北地理种群遗传多样性分析

【目的】大豆食心虫Leguminivora glycinivorella (Matsumura)是一种危害大豆的主要害虫,在中国北方地区危害较重。本研究旨在探讨大豆食心虫在中国东北不同地理种群间的遗传变异。【方法】测定了10个不同地理种群153个个体的线粒体细胞色素氧化酶亚基Ⅰ (mtCOI)基因的657 bp序列,利用DnaSP 5. 0和Arlequin 3. 5. 1. 2等软件对大豆食心虫种群间的遗传多样性、基因流水平和分子变异进行分析。【结果】结果表明：10个地理种群间的COI基因共有36个变异位点和17个单倍型,其中1个单倍型为10个种群所共享。总种群的单倍型多样性指数Hd为0.456,各地理种群单倍型多样度范围在0~0.634之间。总群体的固定系数Fst为0.12545,遗传分化系数Gst为0.06326,总基因流Nm为3.49,且各种群间的基因流均大于1,种群间基因交流的水平较高。【结论】大豆食心虫种群内遗传多样性水平处于中低等水平。总群体和各种群的Tajima’s D检验结果皆不显著,说明中国东北地区大豆食心虫在较近的历史时期内没有出现种群扩张现象。AMOVA分子变异分析结果表明,大豆食心虫的遗传分化主要来自种群内部,而种群间未发生明显的遗传分化。各地理种群的单倍型在系统发育树上和中介网络图上散布在不同的分布群中,缺乏明显的地理分布格局。各种群的遗传距离与地理距离之间没有显著线性相关性,种群间的基因交流并未受到地理距离的影响。     

基于线粒体COI基因的桔小实蝇种群遗传分化研究

【目的】推测桔小实蝇Bactrocera dorsalis在中国的扩散路径和新发生地区的入侵来源。【方法】本研究测序获得来自中国、泰国、日本、老挝、孟加拉国和美国等地31个种群的192头桔小实蝇个体的COI序列（1 496 bp,占COI基因全长97.3%）,并以软件DnaSP 5.0, MEGA 6.0和Arlequin 3.5等完成各种群的遗传多样性、种群间的遗传分化以及单倍型分析。【结果】所测31个桔小实蝇种群总体表现出较高水平的核苷酸多样性（0.00663）和高水平的单倍型多样性（0.98069）。以F-统计法度量种群间遗传分化程度, 结果显示中国桔小实蝇地理种群间遗传分化较弱, 中国种群与泰国、日本、老挝、孟加拉国、美国种群间的遗传分化程度不同, 中国种群与美国种群及日本种群的遗传分化最大。而Mantel检验发现,中国、泰国、日本、老挝、孟加拉国和美国种群间的遗传分化与空间距离有关（R=0.670, P<0.0001）, 中国种群间的遗传分化不是地理隔离所造成的（R=0.038, P=0.534）。中国种群与泰国、日本、老挝、孟加拉国和美国种群间不存在共享单倍型。根据种群系统发育树,可将中国原发生地区种群划分为西南、东南两大分支。中性检验和错配分析结果均表明桔小实蝇曾存在大规模的扩张。【结论】桔小实蝇以东南地区和西南地区为源头向中国内陆扩散,其中广东、福建、广西和贵州种群为中国内陆种群较为有影响力的源头。根据遗传多样性、遗传分化、单倍型分析,推测新发生地区桔小实蝇的来源, 例如安徽合肥桔小实蝇种群主要来源于福建长乐、广东珠海和上海。     

中国北鳅谱系地理学分析

北鳅(Lefua costata)为冷水性鱼类, 分布于淮河以北, 分析遗传结构能够反映其适应环境变迁的响应。基于线粒体D-loop区211条序列分析了我国北鳅的谱系地理学和遗传多样性, 样本采自9条水系共18个样点。单倍型分析显示共计55个单倍型, 呈高单倍型多样性(h=0.9304)和高核苷酸多样性(π=0.0087)。单倍型多样性和核苷酸多样性最高的为辽东半岛种群(LD) (h=0.8920, π=0.0074), 其他地理种群距辽东半岛越远, 单倍型多样性越低。遗传距离(K2P)、群体间的遗传分化指数(F_ST)及AMOVA分子方差分析均显示LD种群与其他地理种群存在显著分化。基于单倍型构建的分子系统发育树和单倍型网络关系图均显示9条水系的单倍型不能各自聚类, 形成3大分支: 分支A以LD种群为主; 分支B含所有地理种群; 分支C以淮黄河种群(HH)和海滦河种群(HL)为主。中性检验和错配分析显示不同地理种群有扩张现象。基于化石校准点和北鳅鱼类D-loop序列1.00%Ma的平均进化速率评估各地理种群的分歧时间, 为2.3784— 0.0477Ma前, LD种群与其他地理种群分化时间最早(2.3784 Ma前), 推测LD种群受第四纪冰期影响较小, 辽东半岛为我国北鳅起源地之一, 其他地理种群以辽东半岛为中心借助松辽古大湖和黄渤海平原河口等发生多次迁移。     

云南部分地区大绒鼠种群遗传多样性与遗传分化研究

大绒鼠Eothenomys miletus是云南省野鼠鼠疫疫源地的主要宿主动物之一。本研究对云南部分地区大绒鼠线粒体细胞色素b(cyt b)基因的部分序列进行分析,探讨云南不同地理种群大绒鼠的遗传多样性和遗传分化。共获得7个采样点140只大绒鼠的cyt b基因序列,共发现变异位点109个,定义51个单倍型,所有种群均为高单倍型多样性和低核苷酸多样性模式,整体平均单倍型多样性为0.977±0.004,核苷酸多样性为0.018 45±0.001 78。基于类平均法构建的分子系统发育树和基于中连法构建的单倍型网络关系图显示出相同的结果,大绒鼠种群分化为4个地域性分支。基因流数据显示多数地理种群间基因交流贫乏,分子变异分析表明,种群间的遗传差异(84.29%)明显高于种群内(15.71%),遗传分化显著。IBD分析表明,大绒鼠的遗传分化与地理距离呈正相关(r=0.699 7,P0.05),说明地理距离隔离是大绒鼠种群分化的重要原因之一。大绒鼠的这种遗传多样性与种群遗传分化,可能与其地下洞道生活、扩散能力弱、地理距离隔离等因素有关。本研究为大绒鼠的分子生态学研究提供了参考依据。     

基于线粒体Cyt b基因的雉鸡甘肃亚种的种群遗传结构

采用聚合酶链式反应(PCR)和直接测序法分析雉鸡甘肃亚种的种群遗传结构。测序获得了8个种群79个样本的长819bp的线粒体细胞色素b(Cytb)基因序列,发现7个变异位点,界定了6种单倍型(Haplotype),其中Hap-1是共享单倍型,占79.75%。在8个种群中,除ZJC和CHX种群外,其它种群的核苷酸多样性和单倍型多样性都很低,种群间遗传分化小,基因流大。ZJC种群由于亚种间的基因渗透,导致其遗传多样性最高。CHX种群受徽成盆地周边山地的森林隔离作用,单倍型最多。分子方差分析(AMOVA)表明,遗传变异主要发生在种群内,占86.44%。种群间和地理种群组间差异不显著。地理种群组的核苷酸多样性(π)同形态上的变异规律一致。FS值检测表明,雉鸡甘肃亚种曾发生过快速扩张。     

基于mtDNA COI基因的甘肃截形叶螨不同地理种群遗传分化分析

【目的】探讨甘肃截形叶螨Tetranychus truncatus种群遗传多样性、遗传分化及种群系统发育关系。【方法】本研究以2016年6-9月采自甘肃省8个不同生境的34个截形叶螨种群的518头螨样品进行mt DNA COI基因PCR扩增、测序,并利用MEGA7.0和Dna SP5.0等软件分析截形叶螨不同种群的mt DNA COI基因序列变异和遗传分化情况。【结果】在34个截形叶螨地理种群中共获得518条mt DNA COI基因片段,测定片段长度为402 bp,T,C,A和G碱基平均含量分别为43.2%,10.5%,32.2%和14.0%,A+T含量(75.4%)明显高于C+G含量(24.6%),有明显的A/T偏倚性;核酸多样性性指数为0.0328。共检出12个单倍型,单倍型指数为0.8004,其中,H2出现了14次,分布于5个生态区域,为主体单倍型,占个体样本的41%。单倍型网络中介图表明各单倍型明显聚为5个聚类簇;12个单倍型的NJ系统发育树明显地分为4支,该结果与单倍型中介网络图的结果基本一致。各种群间的遗传距离在0.001~0.08955之间。UPGMA聚类图结果表明JQ(酒泉)种群和HS(合水)种群与其他种群相比分化明显。Mantel检测结果表明,种群间的遗传距离与地理距离无显著的相关性(r=0.043,P0.05)。34个种群间的遗传分化指数Fst为0.11995,种群间变异比例为1.20%。【结论】甘肃省8个生态区的34个截形叶螨种群间的遗传距离与地理距离无显著相关性;截形叶螨的遗传变异主要来自于种群内部,种群间还未发生明显的遗传分化现象。     

利用线粒体COI和微卫星标记分析文蛤7个地理群体的遗传变异

利用线粒体细胞色素氧化酶亚基I(COI)和微卫星标记分析了文蛤7个地理群体(朝鲜新义州,辽宁丹东、蛤蜊岗和盘山,山东东营,江苏如东和启东)的遗传多样性和群体分化。PCR扩增获得142条602 bp的COI核苷酸片段,比对到13个变异位点,包括11个转换和2个颠换,定义了22个单倍型,共享单倍型12个,新义州、丹东和启东群体分别拥有特有单倍型。单倍型多样性最高的是如东群体(h=0.900),最低的是东营群体(h=0.600);核苷酸多样性最高的是丹东群体(π=0.00350),最低的是蛤蜊岗群体(π=0.00115)。基于COI数据的Fu's Fs中性检验和核苷酸不配对分析揭示文蛤种群历史上曾经历过群体扩张事件。分子变异分析(AMOVA)表明,群体内遗传变异占71.64%,群体间遗传变异占28.36%,群体间发生显著的遗传分化(P0.05)。7个微卫星标记扩增280个个体共获得54个等位基因,平均等位基因数为7.7个,平均观测杂合度和期望杂合度分别为0.3878和0.7996。江苏群体具有较高的遗传多样性,但7个群体间遗传多样性不存在显著差异(Kruskal-Wallis检验,P0.05)。Hardy-Weinberg平衡检验结果显示49个群体-位点组合中有18个偏离平衡(P0.05),表现为杂合子缺失。单倍型邻接(NJ)树显示聚类未展示地域性特色,但某几个同一或者相近地理群体的单倍型具有聚类现象(如东和启东部分单倍型出现地理聚类)。依据群体间遗传距离以Kimura 2-parameter为模型建立UPGMA系统发育树,显示丹东群体和江苏的如东和启东群体聚为一支,暗示江苏苗种的异地养殖已经污染丹东文蛤的遗传背景。     

Population genetic diversity of Chinese sea bass (Lateolabrax maculatus) from southeast coastal regions of China based on mitochondrial COI gene sequences

Chinese sea bass (Lateolabrax maculatus), an important commercial and recreational fishery species in China, whose natural resources have decreased dramatically for decades due to overfishing and environmental changes. To provide guidelines for the source conservation and management, genetic diversity and population structure of L. maculatus were analyzed based on the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. Totally 192 individuals were sampled from five locations: Qingdao (QD), Chongming (CM), Dongtou (DT), Lieyu (LY) and Fangcheng (FC). After sequencing of a 586 bp fragment of COI gene, 20 haplotypes were defined. H4 (haplotype 4) and H8 were the dominant haplotypes and existed in all populations. Haplotype diversity (Hd) and nucleotide diversity (π) of each population ranged from 0.572 to 0.721 and from 0.00129 to 0.00271, respectively. The highest Hd and π were found in DT and LY populations, while the lowest value of Hd and π were in the QD population. Genetic distance ranged from 0.0031 to 0.0027 within populations and from 0.0018 to 0.0035 between populations. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that significant genetic divergence was found in QD and FC populations. In addition, neutrality tests and mismatch distribution analysis indicated that this species experienced potential population expansion events.     

Assessment of three mitochondrial loci variability for the crown-of-thorns starfish: a first insight into Acanthaster phylogeography

Acanthaster planci (L.) is one of the major threats to coral reefs, whose genetic diversity has been mainly studied with allozymes. Allozymes revealed the low genetic differentiation between A. planci populations in the Indo-Pacific area. We obtained sequences of A. planci from Kenya, Mayotte and Madagascar at the three loci cytochrome oxydase subunit I (COI), 16S rDNA (16S) and five tRNAs, analysed together with available sequences of Acanthaster from the Pacific Ocean. The level of genetic diversity varied among the three loci, tRNAs being on average three times less divergent than COI and 16S genes. The genus Acanthaster appeared monophyletic, the two species A. brevispinus (Fisher) and A. planci forming distinct clades in agreement with data from morphology and systematics. The A. planci clade split into a West Indian Ocean group and a Pacific group, in agreement with allozyme data on population differentiation. To cite this article: K. Gérard et al., C. R. Biologies 331 (2008).     

Genetic diversity and population connectivity of the Asian green mussel Perna viridis in South China Sea,inferred from mitochondria DNA markers

The Asian green mussel Perna viridis is ecologically and economically important in the coastal regions of China. In order to characterize the genetic diversity and population connectivity of P. viridis in South China Sea, a 664 bp region of mitochondrial COI gene and a 293 bp region of 16S rRNA gene were sequenced and analyzed for 78 and 92 individuals from four populations in South China Sea, respectively. A total of 15 haplotypes were defined by 14 variable nucleotide sites in COI gene, and 7 haplotypes by 6 variable nucleotide sites in 16S rRNA gene. High haplotype diversity and low nucleotide diversity were observed in COI gene, while moderate haplotype diversity and low nucleotide diversity were observed in 16S rRNA gene. Pairwise F_ST values of COI gene were all negative and those of 16S rRNA gene ranged from −0.01409 to 0.10289. The results showed that no significant genetic divergence (or shallow genetic structure) and high levels of population connectivity among the four populations of P. viridis in South China Sea.     

Comparative phylogeography of three Leptocarabus ground beetle species in South Korea, based on the mitochondrial COI and nuclear 28S rRNA genes

We analyzed the intraspecific gene genealogies of three Leptocarabus ground beetle species (L. seishinensis, L. semiopacus, L. koreanus) in South Korea using sequence data from the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and nuclear 28S rRNA (28S) genes, and compared phylogeographical patterns among the species. The COI data detected significant genetic differentiation among local populations of all three species, whereas the 28S data showed genetic differentiation only for L. seishinensis. The clearest differentiation of L. seishinensis among local populations was between the northern and southern regions in the COI clades, whereas the 28S clade, which likely indicates relatively ancient events, revealed a range expansion across the northern and southern regions. Leptocarabus semiopacus had the most shallow differentiation of the COI haplotypes, and some clades occurred across the northern and southern regions. In L. koreanus, four diverged COI clades occurred in different regions, with partial overlaps. We discuss the difference in phylogeographical patterns among these Leptocarabus species, as well as between these and other groups of carabid beetles in South Korea.     

Increased inter-colony fusion rates are associated with reduced COI haplotype diversity in an invasive colonial ascidian Didemnum vexillum

Considerable progress in our understanding of the population genetic changes associated with biological invasions has been made over the past decade. Using selectively neutral loci, it has been established that reductions in genetic diversity, reflecting founder effects, have occurred during the establishment of some invasive populations. However, some colonial organisms may actually gain an ecological advantage from reduced genetic diversity because of the associated reduction in inter-colony conflict. Here we report population genetic analyses, along with colony fusion experiments, for a highly invasive colonial ascidian, Didemnum vexillum. Analyses based on mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) partial coding sequences revealed two distinct D. vexillum clades. One COI clade appears to be restricted to the probable native region (i.e., north-west Pacific Ocean), while the other clade is present in widely dispersed temperate coastal waters around the world. This clade structure was supported by 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequence data, which revealed a one base-pair difference between the two clades. Recently established populations of D. vexillum in New Zealand displayed greatly reduced COI genetic diversity when compared with D. vexillum in Japan. In association with this reduction in genetic diversity was a significantly higher inter-colony fusion rate between randomly paired New Zealand D. vexillum colonies (80%, standard deviation ±18%) when compared with colonies found in Japan (27%, standard deviation ±15%). The results of this study add to growing evidence that for colonial organisms reductions in population level genetic diversity may alter colony interaction dynamics and enhance the invasive potential of newly colonizing species.     

Mitochondrial DNA signature for range-wide populations of Bicyclus anynana suggests a rapid expansion from recent refugia

This study investigates the genetic diversity, population structure and demographic history of the afrotropical butterfly Bicyclus anynana using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Samples from six wild populations covering most of the species range from Uganda to South Africa were compared for the cytochrome c oxidase subunit gene (COI). Molecular diversity indices show overall high mtDNA diversity for the populations, but low nucleotide divergence between haplotypes. Our results indicate relatively little geographic population structure among the southern populations, especially given the extensive distributional range and an expectation of limited gene flow between populations. We implemented neutrality tests to assess signatures of recent historical demographic events. Tajima's D test and Fu's F(S) test both suggested recent population growth for the populations. The results were only significant for the southernmost populations when applying Tajima's D, but Fu's F(S) indicated significant deviations from neutrality for all populations except the one closest to the equator. Based on our own findings and those from pollen and vegetation studies, we hypothesize that the species range of B. anynana was reduced to equatorial refugia during the last glacial period, and that the species expanded southwards during the past 10.000 years. These results provide crucial background information for studies of phenotypic and molecular adaptation in wild populations of B. anynana.     

Mitochondrial nucleotide variability in invasive populations of the root weevil Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) of Florida and preliminary assessment of Diaprepes sp. from Dominica

Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a root weevil introduced into the United States from the Caribbean in 1964. It is associated with >300 plants, including citrus, sugarcane, and potatoes. D. abbreviatus is widespread in Florida, and it has recently been detected in limited areas of California and Texas. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the utility of 16S ribosomal (16S rRNA) and cytochrome oxidase I (COI) mitochondrial markers for the delineation of genetic populations of D. abbreviatus in Florida and for the characterization of patterns of dispersion among these populations. We also assessed these markers as genetic tools for the clarification of taxonomic uncertainties in specimens from Dominica (Lesser Antilles). We analyzed 111 weevils from six Florida populations and six specimens from Dominica. In Florida, we found three haplotypes with only one haplotype in each population. Florida haplotypes differed by one to three nucleotide substitutions, possibly the result of a recent divergence from one source population or three different introductions from closely related populations from the Caribbean. In contrast, specimens from Dominica showed a high genetic variability with three 16S haplotypes and six unique COI haplotypes, delineating two mitochondrial clades. We show that these mitochondrial markers are useful for phylogeographic studies of D. abbreviatus.     

Genetic diversity and population structure of Sepiella japonica (Mollusca: Cephalopoda: Decapoda) inferred by mitochondrial DNA (COI) variations

In order to describe the genetic diversity of five geographical populations of cuttlefish (Sepiella japonica) along with Chinese coast and determined their phylogenetic relationship, partial mitochondrial COI gene (681bp in length) was amplified from 96 individuals collected from these populations and sequenced. The 5 populations of cuttlefish inhabit Yellow Sea, East China Sea and South China Sea. Out of 22 polymorphic nucleotides identified, 8 were represented by a single sequence, 12 were parsimony informative, which defined 22 haplotypes. Haplotype and nucleotide diversity were low among populations. Of 22 haplotypes, 15 appeared only in a single population, 6 appeared in 2 or 3 populations and 1 was shared by all populations. The COI gene was monomorphic in Qingdao population. The haplotypes identified clustered into 2 clades, each covered individuals from 5 populations each. Pairwise F_ST were not proportional to the geographical distances. Among the 5 populations, relatively high level of genetic diversity was found in Ningde population which was recommended to be the best choice of germplasm resources for artificial releasing project.     

Geographical variation in the genetic diversity and composition of the endangered queen conch Strombus gigas (Mesogastropoda: Strombidae) from Yucatán, México

In Mexico and elsewhere in the Caribbean, the queen conch Strombus gigas is an endangered species. Understanding the genetic connectivity of their populations will support management strategies for long-term conservation of the species. Genetic diversity and population differentiation was assessed from samples collected at Banco Chinchorro and Isla Cozumel in the Mexican Caribbean and at Arrecife Alacranes in the Gulf of Mexico. Samples were obtained from the commercial capture at Banco Chinchorro (n = 50) and Isla Cozumel (n = 40) on March 2004. On November 2004, a non-invasive method for the Arrecife Alacranes sampling was applied, taking the hemolymph of live animals (n = 65) and releasing them to the wild. The mitochondrial DNA variation at two genes (COI and Cyt-b) was analyzed. Genetic diversity at the three locations ranged between 0.55-0.65 in COI and 0.87-0.94 in Cyt-b, showing no bottleneck evidences. A non-significant fixation index (F(ST) = 0.019, p = 0.161) and a Maximum Parsimony Network tree that did not show particular clades associated with any of the geographical locations, suggested a lack of statistically significant genetic differentiation among populations. Nevertheless, the cline patterns observed in both genetic diversity and haplotypic frequencies from Banco Chinchorro through Arrecife Alacranes, and the larger genetic distance between these locations from those between Isla Cozumel, Banco Chinchorro and Arrecife Alacranes, suggest the possibility of a pattern of isolation-by distance. The role of the main current systems over the potential genetic differences in S. gigas populations along the Mexican Caribbean, and the conservation management of S. gigas at these locations as discrete units is discussed.     

Mitochondrial DNA variation in the caramote prawn <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penaeus (Melicertus) kerathurus</Emphasis> across a transition zone in the Mediterranean Sea

In this study we analysed mitochondrial DNA variation in Penaeus kerathurus prawns collected from seven locations along a transect across the Siculo–Tunisian region in order to verify if any population structuring exists over a limited geographical scale and to delineate the putative transition zone with sufficient accuracy. Partial DNA sequences of COI and 16S genes were analysed. In contrast to the highly conservative 16S gene, the COI sequences exhibited sufficient diversity for population analysis. The COI gene revealed low levels of haplotype and nucleotide diversities. The size of the annual landings of this commercial species suggests large population sizes. Hence, the low genetic diversity detected in this study could indicate a possible reduction in effective population sizes in the past. We detected significant genetic differentiation between eastern and western populations likely due to restricted gene flow across the Siculo–Tunisian boundary. We discuss the different evolutionary forces that may have shaped the genetic variation and suggest that the genetic divide is probably maintained by present-day dispersal limitation. R. Zitari-Chatti and N. Chatti are contributed equally to the work.