SYSTEMATIC RELATIONSHIPS AMONG FLORIDA POPULATIONS OF ARGOPECTEN-IRRADIANS (LAMARCK, 1819) (BIVALVIA, PECTINIDAE)

Morphometric and genetic examinations (using allozyme electrophoresis) were conducted on two Florida populations of bay scallops, Argopecten irradians (Lamarck, 1819), to investigate the status of the subspecie s A. i. taylorae Petuch, 1987. One other Florida population [A. i. con centricus (Say, 1822)] was examined morphometrically. Morphometric exa minations emphasized mensural and meristic characters used in previous systematic diagnoses. Morphometric data were analyzed using analysis of variance and principal component analysis. Scallops taken from Flor ida Bay (putatively A. i. taylorae Petuch, 1987) were smaller but othe rwise not morphologically distinct from populations of A. i. concentri cus (Say, 1822) from Pine Island Sound and Homosassa Bay, Florida. Mea n Nei's modified genetic distance value shows a close relationship bet ween Florida Bay and Homosassa Bay scallops. Neither morphometric nor genetic evidence supports the proposed status of A. i. taylorae as dis tinct from Florida populations of A. i. concentricus.