Population genetic structure of the muricid gastropod Lepsiella vinosa in Gulf St Vincent, South Australia

Abstract

Allozyme electrophoresis was used to examine the population genetic structure of the marine gastropod Lepsiella vinosa, which produces benthic egg capsules with crawling juveniles. Samples of L. vinosa, taken from five locations along the coast of Gulf St Vincent, South Australia, including replicate samples within three of the locations, were examined for allozyme variation at four polymorphic loci (Acon-1 , Got, Gpi and Lap). Genotypic frequencies were consistent with expectations under conditions of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Genetic divergence between samples separated by only 500 m was small, in contrast to the great divergence found between samples separated by more than 10 km. This degree of genetic divergence (F_ST = 0.200 ± 0.073; Nei’s D mean − 0.071) indicated low gene flow (N_em = 1.08 immigrants per generation) over distances ≥ 10 km. The data are consistent with a ‘discrete subpopulation model’.

Key words:

• population
• genetic structure
• Lepsiella vinosa
• South Australia