MITOCHONDRIAL-DNA VARIATION AND POPULATION-STRUCTURE IN THE SPINY LOBSTER PANULIRUS-ARGUS

Adult spiny lobsters (Panulirus argus) were collected from nine locati ons throughout the tropical and subtropical northwest Atlantic Ocean a nd examined for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation. 187 different mtD NA haplotypes were observed among the 259 lobsters sampled. Haplotype diversity was calulated to be 0.986 and mean nucleotide sequence-diver sity was estimated to be 1.44%; both of these values are among the hig hest reported values for a marine species. Analysis of molecular varia nce (AMOVA) and phenetic clustering both failed to reveal any evidence of genetic structure within and among populations of P. argus. The pr esent data are consistent with high levels of gene flow among populati ons of P. argus resulting from an extended planktonic larval stage and strong prevailing ocean currents.