INTERSPECIFIC AND INTRASPECIFIC VARIATION OF THE NUCLEOTIDE-SEQUENCE OF THE CYTOCHROME-B GENE IN CORY (CALONECTRIS-DIOMEDEA), MANX SHEARWATER (PUFFINUS-PUFFINUS) AND THE FULMAR (FULMARUS-GLACIALIS)

The cytochrome h gene of three European taxa of the family of Procella riidae was amplified from total DNA and sequenced. The sequence compar ison shows that the Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) is significantly disti nct from shearwaters, whereas Cory's (Calonectris diomedea) and Manx S hearwater (Puffinus puffinus) are closely related. Although the popula tions of C. diomedea can be distinguished morphologically, the sequenc es of cyt b differ only slightly between the Atlantic and Mediterranea n subspecies (i.e. C. d. borealis versus C. d. diomedea) and do not re veal other population differences within subspecies.