Interpopulation variation in blue mussels, Mytilus edulis L., over short distances

Allozyme variation was studied on samples of blue mussels from three locati ons in and around Bergen. After initial studies trying a variety of buffers and electrophoretic conditions, the enzymes PGM and PGI were chosen for me asuring intra- and interpopulation variation. Samples were collected from t hree localities within a maximum distance of about 40 km. High interpopulat ion variation was observed for distribution of PGM and PGI genotypes and th eir controlling alleles. It is assumed that selection has differentiated th e population at the PGM and PGI loci. There is a significant deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg: equilibrium of the PGM* alleles, which may be explaine d by selection.