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The island of Sulawesi, Indonesia, is located in a complex and tectonically active region, and has experienced tsunamis in the past. One of the major earthquake and tsunami events was the 23 February 1969 event that struck the Majene region in western Sulawesi Island. Interpretation of the historical accounts revealed that the Mw 7.0 earthquake generated strong intensity up to VIII on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale. The earthquake was followed by an unusually high tsunami of 4 m that rapidly decayed within 25 km from the highest observation site. Hypocentre and earthquake mechanism analyses confirmed that it was an inland earthquake with a thrust mechanism. Ground motion modelling is able to reproduce the earthquake intensity but earthquake scenarios are unable to reconstruct the tsunami observations. A plausible solution to explain the tsunami report is from a combined scenario of an earthquake and a submarine mass failure of 0.5 km 3 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dengue virus (DENV) infection is a global health concern of increasing magnitude. To target intervention strategies, accurate estimates of the force of infection (FOI) are necessary. Catalytic models have been widely used to estimate DENV FOI and rely on a binary classification of serostatus as seropositive or seronegative, according to pre-defined antibody thresholds. Previous work has demonstrated the use of thresholds can cause serostatus misclassification and biased estimates. In contrast, mixture models do not rely on thresholds and use the full distribution of antibody titres. To date, there has been limited application of mixture models to estimate DENV FOI. Methods: We compare the application of mixture models and time-constant and time-varying catalytic models to simulated data and to serological data collected in Vietnam from 2004 to 2009 (N ≥ 2178) and Indonesia in 2014 (N = 3194). Results: The simulation study showed larger mean FOI estimate bias from the time-constant and time-varying catalytic models (-0.007 (95% Confidence Interval (CI): -0.069, 0.029) and -0.006 (95% CI -0.095, 0.043)) than from the mixture model (0.001 (95% CI -0.036, 0.065)). Coverage of the true FOI was > 95% for estimates from both the time-varying catalytic and mixture model, however the latter had reduced uncertainty. When applied to real data from Vietnam, the mixture model frequently produced higher FOI and seroprevalence estimates than the catalytic models. Conclusions: Our results suggest mixture models represent valid, potentially less biased, alternatives to catalytic models, which could be particularly useful when estimating FOI from data with largely overlapping antibody titre distributions. Author summary: Characterising the transmission intensity of dengue virus is essential to inform the implementation of interventions, such as vector control and vaccination, and to better understand the environmental drivers of transmission locally and globally. It is therefore important to understand how methodological differences and model choice may influence the accuracy of estimates of transmission intensity. Using a simulation study, we assessed the performance of catalytic and mixture models to reconstruct the force of infection (FOI) from simulated antibody titre data. Furthermore, we estimated the FOI of dengue virus from antibody titre data collected in Vietnam and Indonesia. The models produced consistent estimates of FOI when they were applied to data with clear separation between the distributions of seronegative and seropositive antibody titres. We observed greater bias in FOI estimates obtained from catalytic models than from mixture models when they were applied to data with high overlap in the bimodal distribution of antibody titres. Our results indicate that mixture models could be preferential to estimate dengue virus FOI when the antibody titre distributions of the seronegative and seropositive components largely overlap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic diversity and population structure in the fiddler crab Austruca perplexa were investigated to acquire a better understanding of the evolutionary history of the species. Nucleotide sequence analysis was performed from a polymerase chain reaction-amplified fragment of the mitochondrial DNA control region. A 691 bp nucleotide sequence was obtained from 618 specimens collected from 13 sites across Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia and Australia. Haplotype diversity ranged from 0.8 to 0.99, and nucleotide diversity values were lower (range, 0.30–1.9%) than those reported previously for other crustacean taxa. Gene flow was evident within populations in Japan and western Indonesia, but absent among all other populations, including eastern Indonesia. This pattern conforms to the one observed in many other marine taxa across the major biogeographical region referred to as Wallacea. The population pairwise fixation index (F ST) and F ST P- values were high and significant among many sites, implying that gene flow is restricted among most of the geographical regions sampled here. We hypothesize that physical oceanic barriers coupled with a short pelagic larval duration are responsible for creating the patterns we found. Strong evidence for population structure in a species that has relatively high dispersal potential, resulting in among-population differentiation, is a potential driver of evolutionary novelty. Our results provide a foundation for developing better conservation strategies for this widespread intertidal species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Approximately 70% of the global burden of dengue disease occurs on the Asian continent, where many large urban centres provide optimal environments for sustained endemic transmission and periodic epidemic cycles. Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, is a densely populated megacity with hyperendemic dengue transmission. Characterization of the spatiotemporal distribution of dengue transmission intensity is of key importance for optimal implementation of novel control and prevention programmes, including vaccination. In this paper we use mathematical models to provide the first detailed description of spatial and temporal variability in dengue transmission intensity in Jakarta. Methodology/Principal findings: We applied catalytic models in a Bayesian framework to age-stratified dengue case notification data to estimate dengue force of infection and reporting probabilities in 42 subdistricts of Jakarta. The model was fitted to yearly and average annual data covering a 10-year period between 2008 and 2017. We estimated a long-term average annual transmission intensity of 0.130 (95%CrI: 0.129–0.131) per year in Jakarta province, ranging from 0.090 (95%CrI: 0.077–0.103) to 0.164 (95%CrI: 0.153–0.174) across subdistricts. Annual average transmission intensity in Jakarta province during the 10-year period ranged from 0.012 (95%CrI: 0.011–0.013) in 2017 to 0.124 (95%CrI: 0.121–0.128) in 2016. Conclusions/Significance: While the absolute number of dengue case notifications cannot be relied upon as a measure of endemicity, the age-distribution of reported dengue cases provides valuable insights into the underlying nature of transmission. Our estimates from yearly and average annual case notification data represent the first detailed estimates of dengue transmission intensity in Jakarta's subdistricts. These will be important to consider when assessing the population-level impact and cost-effectiveness of potential control and prevention programmes in Jakarta province, such as the controlled release of Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes and vaccination. Author summary: Characterization of the spatiotemporal distribution of dengue transmission intensity, a key measure of population infection risk, can inform the optimal use and deployment of control and prevention programmes. Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, is a large urban centre with hyperendemic dengue transmission. We fitted catalytic models to age-stratified dengue surveillance data reported in Jakarta's subdistricts from 2008 to 2017. We estimated a long-term average annual transmission intensity of 0.130 (95%CrI: 0.129–0.131) per year in Jakarta province, which varied across subdistricts from 0.090 (95%CrI: 0.077–0.103) per year in Sawah Besar to 0.164 (95%CrI: 0.153–0.174) per year in Pasar Rebo. We observed significant spatiotemporal variation and clustering of transmission intensity in Jakarta. Our estimates obtained from the analysis of yearly and cumulative case-notification data reported between 2008 and 2017 represent the first detailed estimates of average dengue transmission intensity, which will be key to assess the potential impact of future control and prevention programmes in Jakarta province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Poboya Prospect lies along the North Northwest ‐ South Southeast Palu‐Koro Fault Zone in the central part of the West Sulawesi Arc. The geology of the area consists of the Palu Metamorphic Complex overlain by the Paleogene‐Neogene Tinombo Formation of volcanosedimentary rocks, the Celebes Molasse sediment, and Late Cenozoic granitic rocks. Petrography, scanning electron microscope with energy‐dispersive spectrometry (SEM‐EDS), electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA), and fluid inclusion microthermometry were carried out to examine vein textures, ore mineralogy, and characteristics of the ore‐forming fluid responsible for mineralization in the River Reef Zone, the Poboya Prospect. Textures of quartz‐carbonate veins in the River Reef Zone include massive micro‐comb, moss, colloform, crustiform, mosaic, feathery, flamboyant, lattice bladed, ghost bladed, parallel bladed, and saccharoidal textures representing primary growth, recrystallization, and replacement. The homogenization temperature and fluid salinity are 240–250°C and 0.3–0.7 wt% NaCl eq., respectively. Ore minerals precipitated in the early stage consist of electrum, naumannite‐aguilarite, chalcopyrite, pyrite, marcasite, sphalerite, and pyrrhotite. Apart from pyrrhotite, these ore minerals were also precipitated in the late stage along with selenopolybasite, freibergite, argyrodite, pyrargyrite, and galena. Selenium more preferably occurs as the crystallographic replacement of sulfur in naumannite‐aguilarite, argyrodite, pyrargyrite, selenopolybasite, and freibergite instead of as independent selenide minerals. The low‐sulfidation epithermal deposit in the River Reef Zone, the Poboya Prospect, illustrates the potential of the West Sulawesi Arc, particularly along the Palu‐Koro Fault Zone, to host epithermal gold mineralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exhumation and tectonomagmatic processes of the granitoid from Sulawesi were discussed using petrochemistry (e.g. petrographic and major element compositions) and geothermobarometry data (mineral chemistry data). Detailed petrographic observations were conducted to determine the mineral composition, texture, and structure of the granitoid rocks, whereas the whole rock composition were determined using XRF method, and the mineral chemistry was analyzed using Electron Microprobe Analyzer (EPMA). The granitoids are classified as calc-alkaline, metaluminous I-type. Pressures of 0.91 to 1.2 kbar and emplacement depths of 3.2 to 4.3 km at temperatures of 677 - 729°C were estimated for Mamasa Pluton. Whereas Masamba Pluton was emplaced at pressures of 2.3 to 2.8 kbar, temperatures of 756 - 774°C, and emplacement depths of 8.2 to 10 km. Moreover, Lalos-Toli and Sony Plutons were emplaced at temperatures of 731 to 736°C and 601 to 609°C, respectively. The pressures varying from 3.1 to 3.3 kbar and 3.2 to 3.4 kbar, equate to an emplacement depth of 11.3 and 11.6 km, respectively. Gorontalo Pluton emplaced at temperatures of 662 - 668°C with the pressure range from 2.6 to 2.7 kbar, is equivalent to 9.3 km deep. Varied oxidation state (ranging from -14 to 19) is inferred from the mineral assemblages, showing a strong association with highly oxidized I-type series granitic rocks. The exhumation rate estimation shows that Mamasa and Masamba Plutons were exhumed respectively at a rate of 0.37 and 1.6 mm/year, whereas Lalos-Toli and Sony Plutons at 1.4 and 2.7 mm/year, respectively. Gorontalo Pluton located in the Northern Sulawesi Province was exhumed at 0.42 mm/year. The rapid exhumation rate of Sony Pluton is attributed to the active vertical movement of Palu-Koro Fault Zone which has been active since Pliocene. It shows that faulting may play an important role in differential exhumation of intrusive bodies in the orogenic belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A simple and accurate molecular diagnostic method for malaria is urgently needed due to the limitations of conventional microscopic examination. In this study, we demonstrate a new diagnostic procedure for human malaria using loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and the MinION™ nanopore sequencer.Methods: We generated specific LAMP primers targeting the 18S-rRNA gene of all five human Plasmodium species including two P. ovale subspecies (P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale wallikeri, P. ovale curtisi, P. knowlesi and P. malariae) and examined human blood samples collected from 63 malaria patients in Indonesia. Additionally, we performed amplicon sequencing of our LAMP products using MinION™ nanopore sequencer to identify each Plasmodium species.Results: Our LAMP method allowed amplification of all targeted 18S-rRNA genes of the reference plasmids with detection limits of 10-100 copies per reaction. Among the 63 clinical samples, 54 and 55 samples were positive by nested PCR and our LAMP method, respectively. Identification of the Plasmodium species by LAMP amplicon sequencing analysis using the MinION™ was consistent with the reference plasmid sequences and the results of nested PCR.Conclusions: Our diagnostic method combined with LAMP and MinION™ could become a simple and accurate tool for the identification of human Plasmodium species, even in resource-limited situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this current study, we observed Trichoderma viride strain FRP3 capability for biodegradation of glyphosate on contaminated land in Indonesia. There were two blank plots that have been involved as representatives of indigenous fungal, that prepared as control (non-contaminated soil) and P1 (GP-contaminated soil) while the treatments were represented by two plots. Plot 2 (P2) was introduced with conidia suspension of Trichoderma viride strain FRP3 one time application, and plot 3 (P3) was introduced with conidia suspension of Trichoderma viride FRP3 two time applications. At the end of observation, the CFU of two times application was the highest with CFU of 15.97 ? 106 gr-1 soil. The CFU of P3 was corresponding to 45% higher than P2 (8.83 ? 106 gr-1 soil). The CFU of GP-contaminated soil without conidia suspension application had 0.66 ? 106 gr-1 soils, only 0.7% and 0.4% corresponding to P2 and P3, respectively. Direct indicator of glyphosate degradation was determined using GC analysis. Within 7 days after Trichoderma viride FRP3 was introduced, glyphosate content of treated soil decreased. This fungal strain provided 48% (P2) and 70% (P3) of glyphosate degradation higher than indigenous soil microbial community (P1) within 28 days of application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lecithocladium angustiovum is identified from the stomach (87.33%) and the intestine (12.67%) of Indonesian short mackerel (Rastrelliger brachysoma). The description includes an elongated body; a mean total length of 1018.84 μm; and an ecsoma of 47.52% of the total length. The oral and ventral sucker ratio is 1:0.63, and the pharynx length is 97.42 μm. The sequence results were obtained by 18s rDNA gene sequencing of the 354 basepair (bp) DNA segment, and the mean base composition (%) was 17.7 A; 35.7 T; 29.6 G; and 17.1 C. A phylogenetic tree was constructed to demonstrate the genetic distance between L. angustiovum and sequences from Lecithocladium excisum, Dinurus longisinus, Plerurus digitatus and Lecithochirium caesionis obtained from GenBank. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Lateral and spatial variations magnetic susceptibilities of the granitic rocks from Sulawesi, Indonesia were studied to constrain its implication for their magma genesis and regional metallogenic. The magnetic susceptibility of the granitic rocks varies between 0.08 x 10-3 SI to 18.58 x 10-3 SI, corresponding respectively to ilmenite series (< 3x 10-3 SI; oxidized type) and magnetite series (> 3x 10-3 SI; reduced type) granite. This wide range result is due to large variation of rock types within one suite which cause a variety of magnetic minerals content in the rocks. Although regionally, Sulawesi granitic rocks are dominated by ilmenite series granites, the ratio of ilmenite/magnetite series granites decreases substantially from the southern part to the northern part of the island. The occurrence of the ilmenite-series with I-type characteristic granitic rocks in Sulawesi Island may be explained by assimilation process between magma and crustal material that containing a various quantity of reduced C- and S-bearing sediments. The ilmenite series granitic rocks are characterised by the occurrences of ilmenite and hematite, higher Sn – W, U – Th, V and total REE+Y, whereas the magnetite series are characterized by abundance of hematite and sulphide minerals but lower Sn – W, U – Th, V and total REE+Y. The absence of Sn and W mineralization in ilmenite-series granitic rocks could be explained by the high oxidation state of the granitic magma. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This research aimed to model groundwater level (GWL) fluctuation in the tropical peatland areas under the effect of El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The focus of the study was the peatland area between Sebangau River and Kahayan River, Central Kalimantan Province Indonesia. One-dimensional GWL model was developed using Excel in order to simulate the GWL fluctuation of 4 GWL observation wells which were Swtr2, Swtr3, Swtr4, and Swtr6. The model was calibrated for the dry season 2011 and, after that, was used to model GWL fluctuation in El Nino year of 1997 and 2002. The model showed very good performance in simulating GWL fluctuation of 4 observation wells in the dry season condition where the GWL were under the ground level elevation. The model indicated that in the El Nino years of 1997 and 2002, the GWL in the observed area in the dry season dropped significantly due to the absence of rainfall in the area. Based on the model, the fire risk in the tropical peatland areas can be measured and predicted. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Batu Hijau deposit is the only porphyry type deposit in production in the Sunda-Banda arc, Indonesia. This study discusses the reason for the localization of copper grade at the deep part of the deposit based on the observation of opaque mineral assemblage. In addition, the formation condition of quartz veins and opaque minerals is discussed on the basis of the fluid inclusion microthermometry. Samples were selected from drill holes SBD100, SBD168, SBD194, SBD254, and SBD257 to cover the wide vertical range. At the Batu Hijau deposit, quartz veins have been classified mainly into four types called A, B, C and D veins, and the A veins contain mainly bornite, often associated with digenite and chalcocite. In addition, magnetite occurs in A veins. However, at the deep part of the deposit, there are quartz veins associated with magnetite, but few copper sulfides such as bornite and chalcopyrite in quartz veins, as observed in SBD257. Quartz veins at depth in SBD257 have abundant magnetite and pyrite. Pyrite in quartz veins at depth in SBD257 mainly occur at the rim of magnetite grains or interstices between them. In quartz veins in SBD254, there are abundant copper sulfides such as bornite and chalcopyrite in spite of the depth. Bornite and chalcopyrite occur as inclusions in magnetite grains in quartz veins in SBD254. Pyrite which often occurs in low grade zone in quartz veins in SBD254 is also recognized at the rims of copper sulfides. This indicates that pyrite in SBD257 and SBD254 formed later than magnetite. On the other hand, blebs of bornite and chalcopyrite inclusions in magnetite grains, which are recognized in quartz veins in SBD168 at shallow high grade part, suggest that the hydrothermal fluid, from which magnetite was deposited also brought the copper sulfides such as bornite and chalcopyrite to the deep part of the Batu Hijau deposit. Therefore, it is concluded that initially the high grade ore zone extended to depth without localization. However due to the later overprinting hydrothermal activity, copper sulfides and magnetite were replaced or dissolved and pyrite was formed, resulting the low grade zone at the deep part of the deposit. Dissolution temperatures (Td) of halite obtained by from fluid inclusion microthermometry show significant differences between SBD168 and other drill holes. The high Td obtained in SBD168 may indicate larger volume of NaCl crystals in hydrothermal fluid at the time of entrapment of the fluid inclusions and formation of other opaque minerals such as magnetite and copper-iron sulfides. It suggests that the ratio of vapor to brine is also higher at the shallow part of the deposit. The higher vapor to brine ratio may suggest a higher degree of boiling. Removal of vapor phase separated from brine during boiling increases the concentration of substances dissolved in the brine, and this will result in saturation, as evidenced by the salinity and NaCl saturation. The higher degree of boiling suggested by the higher vapor to brine ratio at shallow part may have increased the copper concentration in the brine that may have lead the saturation, resulted in the deposition of copper-bearing minerals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Middle Miocene (11.18–10.65 Ma) low sulfidation-type epithermal gold mineralization occurred in the Cibaliung area, southwestern part of Java Island, Indonesia. It is hosted by andesitic to basaltic andesitic lavas of the Middle Miocene Honje Formation (11.4 Ma) and is covered by Pliocene Cibaliung tuff (4.9 Ma). The exploration estimates mineral resource of approximately 1.3 million tonnes at 10.42 g/t gold and 60.7 g/t silver at a 3 g/t Au cut-off. This equates to approximately 435,000 ounces of gold and 2.54 million ounces of silver. That resource resulted from two ore shoots: Cibitung and Cikoneng. Studies on ore mineralogy, hydrothermal alteration, geology, fluid inclusion, stable isotopes and age dating were conducted in order to characterize the deposit and to understand a possible mechanism of preservation of the deposit. The ore mineral assemblage of the deposit consists of electrum, naumannite, Ag-Se-Te sulfide minerals, chalcopyrite, pyrite, sphalerite and galena. Those ore minerals occur in quartz veins showing colloform–crustiform texture. They are enveloped by mixed layer clay illite/smectite zone, which grades into smectite zone outward. The temperature of mineralization revealed by fluid inclusion study on quartz in the veins ranges from 170 and 220°C at shallow and deep level, respectively. The temperature range is in agreement with the temperature deduced from the hydrothermal alteration mineral assemblage including mixed layered illite/smectite and laumontite. The mineralizing fluid is dilute, with a salinity <1 wt% NaCl equivalent and has stable isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen composition indicating a meteoric water origin. Although the deposit is old enough that it would have been eroded in a tropical island arc setting, the coverage by younger volcanic deposits such as the Citeluk tuff and the Cibaliung tuff most probably prevented this erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pongkor gold–silver mine is situated at the northeastern flank of the Bayah dome, which is a product of volcanism in the Sunda–Banda Arc. The hydrothermal alteration minerals in the Ciurug–Cikoret area are typical of those formed from acid to near-neutral pH thermal waters. On the surface, illite/smectite mixed layer mineral (I/Sm), smectite and kaolinite, and spotting illite, I/Sm and K-feldspar alteration occur at the top of the mineralized zone. Silicification, K-feldspar and I/Sm zones are commonly formed in the wall rock, and gradually grade outwards into a propylitic zone. The mineralization of precious metal ore zone is constrained by fluid temperatures between 180 and 220°C, and with low salinity (<0.2 wt% NaCl equivalent) and boiling condition. The minimum depth of vein formation below the paleo-water table is approximately 90–130 m for the hydrostatic column. Hydrogen and oxygen isotope data for quartz and calcite show relatively homogeneous fluid composition (−53 to −68‰δD and −5.7 to +0.3‰δ18O H2O). There is no specific trend in the data with respect to the mineralization stages and elevation, which suggests that the ore-forming fluids did not significantly change spatially during the vein formation. The stable isotope data indicate mixing between the hydrothermal fluids and meteoric water and interaction between the hydrothermal fluids and the host rock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Selogiri area, situated in Wonogiri regency, Central Java, is one of several gold prospecting areas in the Southern areas Mountain Range in Java, Indonesia. Three types of dioritic–andesitic intrusive rocks occur in the Selogiri area, namely, hornblende andesite porphyry, hornblende diorite porphyry and hornblende diorite, exposed in a half-circular depression where volcanic breccia and tuff are widely distributed. The occurrence of stockwork quartz veinlets and associated with magnetite and malachite coating along the cracks in the diorite porphyry suggests porphyry type mineralization. This is also supported by the occurrence of polyphase hypersaline fluid inclusions in the stockwork veinlet quartz. Small-scale miners are mining NS-trending quartz veins for gold associated with base metal sulfides. These veins are probably epithermal-type mineralization that overprinted porphyry-type mineralization. The Neogene intermediate to silicic hydrous magmatism in Java could have formed the porphyry-type mineralization in Selogiri, as in the rest of the Sunda–Banda arc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed new radiometric dating and petrological data of DVC in an attempt to reconstruct volcanic history as groundwork to understand magmatic temporal and spatial evolution. The magma of DVC can be divided on the basis of mineral composition into three types: olivine bearing basalt–basaltic andesite, pyroxene basaltic andesite–andesite, and biotite andesite–dacite, which coincide with three volcanic episodes of DVC: pre-caldera, second, and youngest episode, respectively. The pre-caldera episode was active no later than 1 Ma, the second episode occurred between 0.3 and 0.4 Ma, and the youngest occurred after 0.27 Ma. Plots of CaO, K 2 O, Al 2 O 3 , and Rb/Sr against FeO*/MgO and/or MgO suggest that each volcanic episode has distinct differentiation trends, indicating the presence of multiple shallow magma chambers. The close spatial relationship between the geothermal manifestation, geophysical anomalies, geothermal production zones and volcanic edifices supports the presence of multiple shallow magma chambers beneath DVC, which act as a heat source for the existing geothermal system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adult specimens of Panulirus penicillatus were collected from localities distributed in Japan: Hachijojima Island, Ryukyu Archipelago (Amamioshima, Okinawajima, Ishigakijima); Taiwan: Taitung; Indonesia: Java Sea and Gebe Island; French Polynesia: Moorea Island; and Ecuador: Isabela Island. Phyllosoma larval specimens were collected from the western sea of the Galápagos Islands. In total, 569 - 570 nucleotide sequences were analyzed from the mtDNA control region of 480 individuals. Almost all individuals had a unique haplotype. Intrapopulation haplotype (h) and nucleotide (π) diversities were high for each locality, ranging h = 0.9996 - 1.0000 and π = 0.0255 - 0.0448. A mismatch distribution of pairwise differences between haplotypes indicated that P. penicillatus does not fit the sudden population expansion model. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) shows a clear genetic difference between two regions (western/central Pacific and eastern Pacific). High gene flow was found within localities in the western/central Pacific region, probably resulting from an extended planktonic larval stage and prevailing ocean currents. In this study we detected genetic structure between eastern Pacific populations and western Pacific populations, indicating that despite the nearly 1-yr larval period for this species, larvae generally do not pass over the East Pacific Barrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]