MITOCHONDRIAL-DNA VARIABILITY IN 3 MEDITERRANEAN POPULATIONS OF APHANIUS-IBERUS

The mitochondrial DNA of 86 individuals belonging to three Mediterrane an populations of Aphanius iberus has been digested with 13 restrictio n endonucleases. By comparing the restriction maps obtained, a total o f eight haplotypes have been identified, some of which are characteris tic of each population. The number of nucleotide substitutions per sit e between haplotypes as well as the within- and between-population var iation shows a nucleotide polymorphism similar to other cyprinodontid species that are not under extinction risk. The high genetic divergenc e between one population (Villena) and the other two coastal populatio ns could indicate local endemism.