Microsatellite analysis of Japanese sea cucumber, Stichopus (Apostichopus) japonicus, supports reproductive isolation in color variants.

摘要

The genetic relationship among the 3 colour variants (red, green and black) of the Japanese sea cucumber (Stichopus japonicus) was investigated using 11 microsatellite markers. Genetic differentiation testing among the 3 sympatric colour types showed strong heterogeneity of the red type (P < 0.001), but no significant difference was observed between the green and black types (P = 0.301-0.961). UPGMA trees constructed from 10 sample lots from 5 localities showed 2 distinct clusters, 1 from the red type and the other from the green and black types. In addition, the sympatric green and black formed 1 subcluster with strong bootstrap support at each locality. Results indicate the separate species status of red sea cucumbers and the other colour types, and support the population identity of sympatric green and black sea cucumbers.