Comparative Analysis of Two Populations of the Brittle Star Amphiura filiformis (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) with Different Life History Strategies Using RAPD Markers

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was applied to individuals of Amphiura filiformis sampled from two geographic locations that have previously been reported to have different life history strategies. Of thirty-one 10-mer RAPD primers screened initially, four were chosen and used in a comparative analysis of A. filiformis individuals collected from Galway Bay (Ireland) and Concarneau Bay (France). The results show much variation within A. filiformis populations. Although there are some rare alleles particular to each population, overall the populations were not genetically differentiated with the methods employed. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that a minimum of 93% of genotypic variance occurred among individuals within populations. The statistical significance of this pattern was supported by permutation tests. F _ST values were not significantly different from and UPGMA cluster analyses based on three distance metrics did not separate the two populations. Received March 18, 1999; accepted September 10, 1999.