GENETIC-VARIATION IN ANTARCTIC POPULATIONS OF THE MOSS SARCONEURUM-GLACIALE

Sixty-six isolates of the moss Sarconeurum glaciale were collected fro m sites in continental Antarctica at Ross Island. southern Victoria La nd and the Vestfold Hills. Genetic variation within and among the popu lations was estimated using isozymes and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technology. Isozyme results only reproducibly showed variat ion between the populations with one enzyme; RAPDs indicated significa ntly higher levels of genetic variability within and among the Vestfol d Hills samples than in the Ross Sea region samples. A dendrogram prod uced from the RAPD bands suggested that the Ross Island and southern V ictoria Land samples form one population, and those from the Vestfold Hills form a separate and more variable population, possibly resulting from separate colonisation events on the continent.