Population Structure of Acanthopagrus latus from the Northern Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman Based on Microsatellite Markers

Özet

Yellowfin seabream is reproduced both naturally and semi-artificially and is one of the most probable candidates forcoastal aquaculture in Iran. Genetic structuring of wild Acanthopagrus latus populations from the Northern Persian Gulf andGulf of Oman was analyzed using microsatellite markers. Allelic diversity was estimated in 180 organisms (3 sample sites inthe Persian Gulf and 3 in Gulf of Oman) in 8 microsatellite loci. Results showed a high level of polymorphism (HE=0.81,Ho=0.89), the number of alleles in polymorphic loci ranged from 9 to 14. High level of diversity between individuals butmoderate diversity rate between populations was observed. AMOVA analysis showed low to medium but significant geneticdifferentiation between populations (p= 0.001) and significant genetic differentiation between Gulf of Oman and the PersianGulf populations was detected. Results from this study differentiate four populations in the region: two in the Persian Gulf andtwo in Gulf of Oman. No evidence for recent population bottleneck was detected; however low allelic rate may relate to highfishing pressure on this species. This suggests that care should be taken for fisheries managers, for aquaculture and restockingprograms.