Population genetic structure of a California endemic Branchiopod, Branchinecta sandiegonensis

Hydrobiologia
By: , and 

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Abstract

Branchinecta sandiegonensis (Crustacea: Anostraca) is a narrow range endemic fairy shrimp discontinuously distributed in ephemeral pools on coastal mesas in San Diego County, USA. Ten populations across the range of the species were subjected to allozyme analysis for eleven loci. The species exhibits low variability (P95 =9.1–45.5) and one third of the loci tested did not conform to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium expectations. The species also exhibited a high degree of genetic differentiation between populations. F ST values (fixation index) for most pairs of populations were above 0.25 (0.036–0.889).Low genetic variability and high genetic structure may result from low gene flow and founder effects due to habitat fragmentation and the lack of potential vectors for cyst dispersal. The unpredictable rainfall of the region also creates potential for variable population sizes which could affect structure and variability.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Population genetic structure of a California endemic Branchiopod, Branchinecta sandiegonensis
Series title Hydrobiologia
DOI 10.1023/A:1003150517472
Volume 359
Issue 1-3
Year Published 1997
Language English
Publisher Springer
Contributing office(s) Western Ecological Research Center
Description 10 p.
First page 149
Last page 158
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