1. Fiord populations of Astrobrachion constrictum (Ophiuroidea: Asteroschematidae) show little genetic differentiation for mitochondrial DNA.
- Author
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Steel, DJ, Stewart, BG, Trewick, SA, and Wallis, GP
- Subjects
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OPHIUROIDEA , *MITOCHONDRIAL DNA , *MITOCHONDRIA , *NUCLEIC acids , *ECHINODERMATA - Abstract
The fiords of southwestern New Zealand may promote the existence of genetically divergent populations as a result of geological and ecological isolation. The ophiuroidAstrobrachion constrictumlives on black coral in these fiords, and is thought to have a relatively short pelagic larval duration that may limit dispersal among populations. Samples ofA. constrictumwere collected from seven sites (four fiords) in Fiordland. Analysis of the mitochondrial COI gene using single-stranded conformational polymorphism revealed eight haplotypes, representatives of which were sequenced. These included nine variable sites, none of which were phylogenetically informative.G-test and AMOVA revealed little structuring of samples within or among fiords, but there was evidence for reduced gene flow among the most geographically separated fiords. We conclude that fiords do not house relict populations from earlier glaciations, and that little differential sorting of haplotypes has occurred in the last 10,000 years. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Published
- 2015
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