ALLOZYME VARIATION WITHIN 5 SPECIES OF AEGIALIA (COLEOPTERA, SCARABAEIDAE)

Genetic variation within 5 species of Aegialia was examined using allo zyme electrophoresis. Thirty-two presumptive loci were used for analys is among and within 14 populations. Percentage of polymorphic loci was large, ranging from 12.1 to 93.9 within these scarab beetles. Overall , low heterozygosities were found within this genus, but estimates wer e within the range found for other Coleoptera and invertebrates. Genet ic distances between pairs of populations ranged from 0.012 to 0.653. Estimated gene flow measures (number of migrants per generation) were low. Pairwise regressions of estimated gene flow against pairwise geog raphic distances for 3 widely separated populations of Aegialia puncta ta Brown showed a significant relationship, indicating that these popu lations are isolated-by-distance, However, 7 populations of A. punctat a Brown from a single, large sand dune complex showed a nonsignificant isolation-by-distance. Predictions based on dispersal capabilities (f light) were supported by genetic distance measures but only slightly b y gene flow estimates. A. punctata is ported geographically isolated o ver large geographic distances, but not on smaller, within-dune comple x, geographic scales.