Full Length Research Paper

AFLP analysis on genetic diversity and population structure of small yellow croaker Larimichthys polyactis

Long Shan Lin^1,2, Yi Ping Ying¹, Zhi Qiang Han³, Yong Shuang Xiao¹ and Tian Xiang Gao^1,3*

¹The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 P. R., China.

²East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Shanghai　200090 P. R, China.

³Fishery College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, 316004 P. R., China.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: gaozhang@ouc.edu.cn. Tel.: +86 532 82032063.

Accepted 21 April, 2009

The population genetic structure and diversity of small yellow croaker Larimichthys polyactis in the Bohai Bay, Yellow Sea and East China Sea were analyzed using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). Ninety-one individuals were collected from six locations representing three stocks of small yellow croaker. A total of 218 putative loci were detected by 3 primer combinations, 148 of which were polymorphic (67.89%). The proportion of polymorphic loci and Nei’s genetic diversity for six populations ranged from 55.34 - 60.09%, and from 0.1244 - 0.1378. AMOVA analysis and pairwise F_ST revealed significant genetic differentiation among the three groups based on the breeding migration routes and over-wintering grounds, supporting separate stocks in this species. The result shows the migratory behavior might be an important factor which influences the genetic structure of this species. The UPGMA tree also revealed the significant geographic structure in this species. Pattern of isolation by distance was observed in this species, indicating that significant genetic differentiation among localities of small yellow croaker might be due to the geographic distance.

Key words: Small yellow croaker, Larimichthys polyactis, genetic population structure, genetic diversity, AFLP.