Genetic diversity, relationships and demographic history of the small yellow croaker,Larimichthys polyactis(Pisces: Sciaenidae) from Korea and China inferred from mitochondrial control region sequence data

Abstract

Genetic variation was surveyed at the mitochondrial control region (766bp) to test for the presence of genetic stock structure in the small yellow croaker, Larimichthys polyactis from the Yellow and East China Seas. Individuals of the small yellow croaker could not be distinguished on the basis of its location, as demonstrated using the neighborjoining (NJ) method, unweighted pair-group method, arithmetic average (UPGMA) and the minimum spanning network (MSN). Analysis of molecular variance revealed no significant differences among collections of the small yellow croaker taken from the four locations (two locations each in Korea and China). Neutrality tests and a mismatch distribution analysis indicated that this species has recently expanded. Our findings suggest either that the small yellow croaker has a high migration capability that enables it to overcome the effects of genetic drift, or that this species expanded relatively recently and has not yet had sufficient time to differentiate.

Genetic structure ofLarimichthys polyactis(Pisces: Sciaenidae) in the Yellow and East China Seas inferred from microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA analyses

“…The latter finding carefully suggests that L. polyactis in the Yellow and East China Seas may be considered a single panmictic population, although the number of individuals examined here is slightly lower than 30 (Table 1). Our results were consistent with those of mtDNA CR (Xiao et al 2009;Kim et al 2010) but different from that of AFLP (Han et al 2009). Han et al (2009) suggested the existence of four populations of L. polyactis in the Yellow and East China Seas with an AFLP analysis.…”

“…Nevertheless, in the case of small or recently bottlenecked populations, only the microsatellite with highest mutation rates are likely to be informative (Hedrick 1999). Previous studies based on mtDNA CR have suggested that the L. polyactis in the Yellow and East China Seas comprises a single population (Xiao et al 2009;Kim et al 2010). According to those studies, mtDNA CR of L. polyactis has very high variability.…”

“…According to those studies, mtDNA CR of L. polyactis has very high variability. In particular, Kim et al (2010) demonstrated that all 83 specimens collected from Korea and China represented unique haplotypes. Our mtDNA COI results are very consistent with the previous results for mtDNA CR (Xiao et al 2009;Kim et al 2010).…”

“…Hwang et al (1994) first demonstrated a lack of genetic structure in the L. polyactis population in the Yellow Sea using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), but suggested the need for further study. In recent years, Xiao et al (2009), Han et al (2009) and Kim et al (2010) have documented the stock structure of L. polyactis in the Yellow and East China Seas. Xiao et al (2009) and Kim et al (2010) maintained that L. polyactis comprises a single stock, on the basis of a mtDNA control region, whereas Han et al (2009) maintained that L. polyactis consists of at least three stocks (northern Yellow Sea stock, southern Yellow Sea stock and East China Sea stock), based on an amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis.…”

“…In recent years, Xiao et al (2009), Han et al (2009) and Kim et al (2010) have documented the stock structure of L. polyactis in the Yellow and East China Seas. Xiao et al (2009) and Kim et al (2010) maintained that L. polyactis comprises a single stock, on the basis of a mtDNA control region, whereas Han et al (2009) maintained that L. polyactis consists of at least three stocks (northern Yellow Sea stock, southern Yellow Sea stock and East China Sea stock), based on an amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis. These conflicting results reflect the need for additional DNA markers, such as microsatellite loci.…”