PHOSPHOGLUCONATE DEHYDROGENASE POLYMORPHISM AND SALINITY IN THE WHITE SANDS PUPFISH

The phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (Pgdh) locus is the only polymorphic allozyme locus observed among 37 loci examined in all four populations of a New Mexico state Endangered species, the White Sands pupfish (Cyprinodon tularosa). We report evidence suggesting that this polymorphism may be associated with salinity. Salinity levels vary widely within and between habitats occupied by White Sands pupfish. The frequency of the Pgdh¹⁰⁰ allozyme was correlated with salinity but not with temperature. Frequency of Pgdh¹⁰⁰ differed between low (3.76 parts per thousand (ppt)) and high (9.23 ppt) salinity sites at Malpais Spring despite no obvious barriers to fish movement. Frequencies of Pgdh¹⁰⁰ in two introduced populations differed from that of the presumptive founding stock and correlated with salinity in the current habitats.