The relationship between different morphs of Anemonia aff. sulcata evaluated by DNA fingerprinting (Anthozoa, Actinaria)

Colour morphs of Anemonia aff. sulcata, var. rustica, var. vulgaris, var, a lbida, var. alabastrina and var. smaragdina (ecotype II) were found in clos e neighbour-hood in a sheltered bay of the Mediterranean island Giglio in t he Thyrrhenian Sea. Some of the morphs are known to form colonies of generi cally identical individuals by asexual propagation. Thus, the complex popul ation in the studied area was analysed by DNA fingerprinting to reveal or e xclude a genetic basis for the phenotypic differences. To this end a modifi ed technique for DNA preparation has been established which ensures surviva l of the animals and may be well suited for other studies in Actinaria. The morphs var. rustica and var. vulgaris were represented by one clone each c onsisting of an enormous number of animals. The specimens of the morphs var . albida and var. alabastrina were also members of these clones as evidence d by their genotypes. They are characterised by a low content of pigments o f zooxanthellac and, thus, do not represent real colour morphs. The reddish and green tones of tentacles of var. vulgaris and var, smaragdina seem to be independent from the content of zooxanthellae, which is in contrast to e arlier statements. Furthermore, all individuals of var. smaragdina (ecotype II) were genetically different, which points to a lack of asexual reproduc tion in this morph.