Lack of divergence in the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene between Macruronus species (Pisces: Merlucciidae) in the Southern Hemisphere

Abstract

Two species of grenadier, the blue grenadier (or hoki) Macruronus novaezelandiae and the Patagonian grenadier M. magellanicus, have been recorded in the Southern Hemisphere with disjunct distributions along southern Australia‐New Zealand and southern Chile‐Argentina, respectively. The extent of genetic difference between these two putative species was examined using partial sequences (n = 44; 405 bp) of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene in a phylogenetic analysis and in an analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA). Our analysis showed a lack of genetic differentiation between species (FST = ‐0.02275, F ST = ‐0.00250) and among stocks. This absence of genetic differences is consistent with recent larval and adult morphology data suggesting that the two species should be synonymised. A comparable lack of genetic isolation has been observed in other closely related taxa (genera Merluccius and Micromesistius) with similar disjunct distributions across the Southern Hemisphere.

Key words:

• Macruronus novaezelandiae
• Macruronus magellanicus
• Chile
• New Zealand
• mitochondrial DNA