Biochemical Genetics of Lobsters: Genetic Variation and the Structure of American Lobster (Homarus americanus) Populations

Eight populations of American lobsters, Homarus americanus, were surveyed for genetic variation at 44 loci encoding electrophoretically detectable proteins. Rather low levels of genetic variability were found, the average proportion of heterozygous loci per individual being 3.8%. Genetic variation is concentrated at only eight loci, with just five loci — Acid phosphatase-1, Esterase-2, Phosphoglucose isomerase-4, Phosphoglucomutase-1, and Tetrazolium reductase-2 — having proportions of heterozygotes greater than 20%. Interpopulation differences are small; the genetic identity averaged over all loci, I, is above 0.99 in all but three comparisons. Differentiation between populations was found only at the Malic enzyme locus, but the degree of this differentiation supports the suggestion from previous migration and morphological studies that H. americanus is subdivided into a number of more or less geographically isolated inshore and offshore populations. These local populations are nonetheless genetically similar.

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Applications of Biochemical Genetics to Aquaculture

Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada ◽

10.1139/f76-139 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 33 (4) ◽

pp. 1108-1119 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Dennis Hedgecock ◽

Robert A. Shleser ◽

Keith Nelson

Keyword(s):

Gel Electrophoresis ◽

Biochemical Analysis ◽

Natural Populations ◽

Homarus Americanus ◽

Larval Survival ◽

Mendelian Inheritance ◽

Hybrid Vigor ◽

American Lobster ◽

Biochemical Genetics ◽

Lobster Fishery

American lobster (Homarus americanus) catches are diminishing. More than 90% of the annual catch is 2.2-kg (1-lb) minimum legal size. Females of this size may have produced 10,000 eggs prior to catch, but, with an estimated larval survival of 1/100,000, 10 females are required to reproduce 1 female. The prognosis for the lobster fishery appears poor.Laboratory culture of larval lobsters can achieve more than 60% survival at a cost of about 2¢ per postlarval juvenile. The effectiveness of restocking has never been evaluated.Starch-gel electrophoresis reveals protein differences among individual lobsters: progeny studies confirm Mendelian inheritance of allozymes encoded by five independent genes, Est-2, Idh, Pgi-3, Pgi-4, and Pgm-1. Genetic markers may be determined by biochemical analysis of pereiopod tissue, without killing. Allozyme frequencies have been measured in natural populations (e.g. Pgm-1103 is absent in lobsters from Martha’s Vineyard (MVS), but occurs elsewhere in frequencies of 0.C2). Larvae with rare allozyme genotypes (e.g. Pgm-1100/103 or Pgm-1103/103 at MVS) may be obtained from selected females or produced by appropriate matings. These may be released, and their survival at selected times after release monitored by leg sampling from lobsters of the appropriate age-class. This technique is being used to select diverse parental stocks and produce progeny which may show hybrid vigor. These stocks will be used in developing lobster farming.

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GENETIC VARIATION IN NATURAL POPULATIONS OF FIVE DROSOPHILA SPECIES AND THE HYPOTHESIS OF THE SELECTIVE NEUTRALITY OF PROTEIN POLYMORPHISMS

Genetics ◽

10.1093/genetics/77.2.343 ◽

1974 ◽

Vol 77 (2) ◽

pp. 343-384

Author(s):

Francisco J Ayala ◽

Martin L Tracey ◽

Lorraine G Barr ◽

John F McDonald ◽

Santiago Pérez-Salas

Keyword(s):

Genetic Variation ◽

Genetic Differentiation ◽

Natural Populations ◽

Evolutionary Divergence ◽

Average Value ◽

Local Populations ◽

Selective Neutrality ◽

Average Proportion ◽

Substantial Degree ◽

Protein Polymorphisms

ABSTRACT We have studied genetic variation at 30-32 loci coding for enzymes in natural populations of five species of Drosophila. The average proportion of heterozygous loci per individual is 17.7 ± 0.4%. The average proportion of polymorphic loci per population is 69.2 ± 2.6% or 49.8 ± 2.2%, depending on what criterion of polymorphism is used. The following generalizations are advanced: (1) The amount of genetic polymorphism varies considerably from locus to locus. (2) At a given locus, populations of the same species are very similar in the amount and pattern of genetic variation. (3) However, at some loci large differences sometimes occur between local populations of the same species. (4) The amount of variation at a given locus is approximately the same in all five species. (5) When different species are compared, the pattern of the variation is either essentially identical or totally different at a majority of loci. We have tested the hypothesis that protein polymorphisms are selectively neutral by examining four predictions derived from the hypothesis. Our results are at variance with every one of the predictions. We have measured the amount of genetic differentiation, D, between taxa of various degrees of evolutionary divergence. The average value of D is 0.033 for local populations, 0.228 for subspecies, 0.226 for semispecies, 0.538 for sibling species, and 1.214 for morphologically distinguishable species. Our results indicate that a substantial degree of genetic differentiation (22.8 allelic substitutions for every 100 loci) occurs between allopatric populations that have diverged to the point where they might become different species if they were to become sympatric. However, very little additional genetic change is required for the development of complete reproductive isolation. After the speciation process is completed, species continue to diverge genetically from each other.

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Growth of juvenile American lobster Homarus americanus in a changing environment

Marine Ecology Progress Series ◽

10.3354/meps11854 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 557 ◽

pp. 177-187 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

MD McMahan ◽

DF Cowan ◽

Y Chen ◽

GD Sherwood ◽

JH Grabowski

Keyword(s):

Homarus Americanus ◽

American Lobster ◽

Changing Environment

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Predicting bycatch hotspots based on suitable habitat derived from fishery-independent data

Marine Ecology Progress Series ◽

10.3354/meps13302 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 641 ◽

pp. 159-175

Author(s):

J Runnebaum ◽

KR Tanaka ◽

L Guan ◽

J Cao ◽

L O’Brien ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Habitat Suitability ◽

Mixed Model ◽

Linear Mixed Model ◽

Gulf Of Maine ◽

Homarus Americanus ◽

Management Tool ◽

American Lobster ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Climate Conditions ◽

Suitability Index

Bycatch remains a global problem in managing sustainable fisheries. A critical aspect of management is understanding the timing and spatial extent of bycatch. Fisheries management often relies on observed bycatch data, which are not always available due to a lack of reporting or observer coverage. Alternatively, analyzing the overlap in suitable habitat for the target and non-target species can provide a spatial management tool to understand where bycatch interactions are likely to occur. Potential bycatch hotspots based on suitable habitat were predicted for cusk Brosme brosme incidentally caught in the Gulf of Maine American lobster Homarus americanus fishery. Data from multiple fisheries-independent surveys were combined in a delta-generalized linear mixed model to generate spatially explicit density estimates for use in an independent habitat suitability index. The habitat suitability indices for American lobster and cusk were then compared to predict potential bycatch hotspot locations. Suitable habitat for American lobster has increased between 1980 and 2013 while suitable habitat for cusk decreased throughout most of the Gulf of Maine, except for Georges Basin and the Great South Channel. The proportion of overlap in suitable habitat varied interannually but decreased slightly in the spring and remained relatively stable in the fall over the time series. As Gulf of Maine temperatures continue to increase, the interactions between American lobster and cusk are predicted to decline as cusk habitat continues to constrict. This framework can contribute to fisheries managers’ understanding of changes in habitat overlap as climate conditions continue to change and alter where bycatch interactions could occur.

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Population Genetics ofCaenorhabditis elegans: The Paradox of Low Polymorphism in a Widespread Species

Genetics ◽

10.1093/genetics/163.1.147 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 163 (1) ◽

pp. 147-157 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Arjun Sivasundar ◽

Jody Hey

Keyword(s):

Genetic Variation ◽

Microsatellite Loci ◽

Population Expansion ◽

Widespread Species ◽

C Elegans ◽

Model Research ◽

The World ◽

Natural Isolates ◽

History Of ◽

Low Levels

AbstractCaenorhabditis elegans has become one of the most widely used model research organisms, yet we have little information on evolutionary processes and recent evolutionary history of this widespread species. We examined patterns of variation at 20 microsatellite loci in a sample of 23 natural isolates of C. elegans from various parts of the world. One-half of the loci were monomorphic among all strains, and overall genetic variation at microsatellite loci was low, relative to most other species. Some population structure was detected, but there was no association between the genetic and geographic distances among different natural isolates. Thus, despite the nearly worldwide occurrence of C. elegans, little evidence was found for local adaptation in strains derived from different parts of the world. The low levels of genetic variation within and among populations suggest that recent colonization and population expansion might have occurred. However, the patterns of variation are not consistent with population expansion. A possible explanation for the observed patterns is the action of background selection to reduce polymorphism, coupled with ongoing gene flow among populations worldwide.

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POPULATION GENETICS OF ALLOZYME VARIATION IN NEUROSPORA INTERMEDIA

Genetics ◽

10.1093/genetics/80.4.785 ◽

1975 ◽

Vol 80 (4) ◽

pp. 785-805

Author(s):

P T Spieth

Keyword(s):

Genetic Variation ◽

Vegetative Reproduction ◽

Vascular Plant ◽

Natural Populations ◽

Allozyme Variation ◽

Regular Feature ◽

Local Populations ◽

Neurospora Intermedia ◽

Pattern Of Variation ◽

High Level

ABSTRACT Electrophoretically detectable variation in the fungus Neurospora intermedia has been surveyed among isolates from natural populations in Malaya, Papua, Australia and Florida. The principal result is a pattern of genetic variation within and between populations that is qualitatively no different than the well documented patterns for Drosophila and humans. In particular, there is a high level of genetic variation, the majority of which occurs at the level of local populations. Evidence is presented which argues that N. intermedia has a population structure analogous to that of an annual vascular plant with a high level of vegetative reproduction. Sexual reproduction appears to be a regular feature in the biology of the species. Substantial heterokaryon function seems unlikely in natural populations of N. intermedia. Theoretical considerations concerning the mechanisms underlying the observed pattern of variation most likely should be consistent with haploid selection theory. The implications of this constraint upon the theory are discussed in detail, leading to the presentation of a model based upon the concept of environmental heterogeneity. The essence of the model, which is equally applicable to haploid and diploid situations, is a shifting distribution of multiple adaptive niches among local populations such that a given population has a small net selective pressure in favor of one allele or another, depending upon its particular distribution of niches. Gene flow among neighboring populations with differing net selective pressures is postulated as the principal factor underlying intrapopulational allozyme variation.

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