MICROSATELLITE VARIATION DEMONSTRATES MULTIPLE PATERNITY IN LEKKING CICHLID FISHES FROM LAKE MALAWI, AFRICA

The genotypes of two microsatellite loci were determined for the mouth brooded progeny of 13 females, representing seven species of both rock - and sand-dwelling Lake Malawi cichlid fishes. Multiple paternity is clearly demonstrated for all but two broods. One brood contained the p rogeny of at least six males. Heterozygosity of these two microsatelli te loci in a sample of 18 male Copadichromis cyclicos was 89% and 83%, respectively. Each locus displayed 16 alleles among the 18 males. The expected average exclusion probability using both loci, given a mothe r/offspring pair, is 0.968, suggesting that microsatellite variation w ill be useful for quantifying mate choice in these taxa. The low heter ozygosity of a Melanochromis auratus brood is consistent with reduced levels of mtDNA polymorphism previously documented in this species. Th us microsatellite variation may provide insight into the genetic histo ry of these populations.