Allozymic variation in Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean populations of Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus

Abstract

Allozyme starch gel electrophoresis was used to investigate the genetic structure of Nephrops norvegicus populations in an extended sampling scheme. Nine Populations from the North Sea and Aegean Sea were sampled and analysed using ten enzymatic systems corresponding to 15 putative loci. Values of heterozygosity were similar between Atlantic and Mediterranean population samples, ranging front 0.165 to 0.187. Genetic distance estimates, F-ST analyses and tests for genetic differentiation revealed a heterogeneous genetic structure within the sampling area of N. norvegicus. No evidence was found of past separation of Atlantic and Mediterranean populations, agreeing with the results of previous allozymic and mitochondrial genetic studies of N. norvegicus. Data are compared with genetic studies of other marine crustaceans and fish, and the implications for management of N. norvegicus stocks are discussed. (c) 2006 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.