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Multiple Paternity in Norway Lobster (Nephrops norvegicus L.) Assessed with Microsatellite Markers

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Abstract

We investigated genetic diversity and the mating system of the Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) in a wild population off the Portuguese coast. Approximately 100 individuals were screened for 2 microsatellite loci. For 11 ovigerous lobsters both the female and a sample of her offspring (24 eggs) were genotyped. High genetic diversity was observed for the 2 markers in the population. Paternity within broods was analyzed by comparing multilocus genotypes of each egg with the corresponding mother, and the male parent contribution was then deduced. Multiple paternity was observed in 6 of the 11 broods studied. In those cases, 2 to 3 male parents were likely to have contributed to the fertilization of the eggs. When multiple paternity was involved, the comparative reproductive success of the male parents was quite even. This is the first report of multiple paternity in the Norway lobster. Comparisons with other taxa are presented, and consequences of multiple paternity are discussed.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded in part through the European Union (project NEPGENES, contract Biological Studies no. 96-064). During the course of the work, R. Streiff (postdoctoral fellow) and S. Mira (research assistant) were funded by the same project.

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  1. Center of Marine Sciences, CCMAR, University of Algarve, P-8005-139 Faro, Portugal

    R. Streiff, S. Mira, M. Castro & M. L. Cancela

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  1. R. Streiff
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  2. S. Mira
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  3. M. Castro
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  4. M. L. Cancela
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Correspondence to R. Streiff.

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Streiff, R., Mira, S., Castro, M. et al. Multiple Paternity in Norway Lobster (Nephrops norvegicus L.) Assessed with Microsatellite Markers . Mar. Biotechnol. 6, 60–66 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10126-003-0015-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10126-003-0015-7

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