Estimating allozyme genetic variability in red king crab Paralithodes camtschaticus tilesius

摘要

Interspecific genetic variation in populations of red king crab Paralithodes camtschaticus Tilesius (Litholdae, Decapoda: Crustacea) was examined using allzyme markers. The activity of 57 enzymes and the general protein presumably encoded by 92 loci was detected. The level of allozyme variability was low: the expected heterozygosity and the proportion of polymorphic loci were respectively 0.027 +- 0.008 and 6.5%. This level of heterozygosity is three times lower than the average value for 122 crustacean species (0.027 +- 0.008). Although genetic variants were found at 22 loci, their frequencies were generally low: only in loci 6-Pgd, Alp-1, and Pep-1 did the frequencies of the most common alleles not exceed 0.9. All polymorphic loci except one had two alleles; the exception was 6-Pgd, which had three alleles. The possible reasons for the low level of allozyme variability in red king crab are discussed.