Biochemical differentiation of two groups within the species-complex Henricia Gray, 1840 (Echinodermata, Asteroidea) using starch-gel electrophoresis

Eighteen specimens from the Henricia pertusa group and 12 from the H. perforata group were examined for biochemical differences at the glucose-1-phosphate isomerase (GPI^* locus). Six alleles were found. Neither group showed deviations from Hardy Weinberg equilibrium (HW) (H. pertusa group: P1, H. perforata group: P=0.07, confidence interval=0.066–0.076). Significant differences in allele frequencies between the two groups (P0), supported previous assertions of reproductive isolation between the two groups based on morphological differences. However, near significance in HW disequilibrium in the H. perforata group indicates possible substructure in this group.