Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Electrophoretic survey of genetic variation in Pecten maximus, Chlamys opercularis, C. varia and C. distorta from the Irish Sea

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Genetic variation was investigated during 1982 and 1983 in four scallop species from the Irish Sea using starch gel electrophoresis. Twenty-one enzyme loci were detected in Pecten maximus (L.), 22 in Chlamys opercularis (L.), 18 in C. varia (L.) and 19 in C. distorta (da Costa). The percentage of loci which were polymorphic ranged from 50 to 73%, the mean effective number of alleles varied between 1.321 and 2.598, and the observed heterozygosity per locus ranged from 0.155 to 0.321 in the four species. These levels of genetic variation are similar to those observed for several oyster species, but are higher than values so far reported for mussels and other scallops. Each species exhibited an overall, small, mean heterozygote deficiency at polymorphic loci, but no one enzyme locus contributed particularly to this deficiency in all species. It is suggested, however, that non-genetic variation may be exhibited at certain esterase loci.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature cited

  • Ahmad, M., D. O. F. Skibinski and J. A. Beardmore: An estimate of the amount of genetic variation in the common mussel, Mytilus edulis. Biochem. Genet. 15, 833–846 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Avala, F. J., D. Hedgecock, G. S. Zumwalt and J. W. Valentine: Genetic variation in Tridacna maxima, an ecological analog of some unsuccessful evolutionary lineages. Evolution, Lawrence, Kansas 27, 177–191 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Beaumont, A. R.: Geographic variation in allele frequencies at three loci in Chlamys opercularis from Norway to the Brittany coast. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 62, 243–261 (1982a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Beaumont, A. R.: Variations in heterozygosity at two loci between year classes of a population of Chlamys opercularis (L.) from a Scottish sea loch. Mar. Biol. Lett. 3, 25–34 (1982b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Beaumont, A. R. and C. M. Beveridge: Resolution of phosphoglucomutase isozymes in Mytilus edulis L. Mar. Biol. Lett. 4, 97–103 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  • Beaumont, A. R., C. M. Beveridge and M. D. Budd: Selection and heterozygosity within single families of the mussel, Mytilus edulis L. Mar. Biol. Lett. 4, 151–161 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  • Beaumont, A. R., T. R. Day and G. Gäde: Genetic variation at the octopine dehydrogenase locus in the adductor muscle of Cerastoderma edule (L.) and six other bivalve species. Mar. Biol. Lett. 1, 137–148 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  • Beaumont, A. R., E. M. Gosling, C. M. Beveridge, M. D. Budd and C. M. Burnell. Studies on heterozygosity and growth rate in the scallop, Pecten maximus (L.). (In preparation)

  • Beaumont, A. R. and Ll. D. Gruffydd: A polymorphic system in the sarcoplasm of Chlamys opercularis. J. Cons. int. Explor. Mer 36, 190–192 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, A. H. D.: The estimation of Wright's fixation index from genotypic frequencies. Genetica 41, 399–406 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Buroker, N. E.: Population genetics of the American oyster Crassostrea virginica along the Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico. Mar. Biol. 75, 99–112 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  • Buroker, N. E.: P. Chanley, H. J. Cranfield and P. Dinamani: Systematic status of two oyster populations of the genus Tiostrea from New Zealand and Chile. Mar. Biol. 77, 191–200 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  • Buroker, N. E., W. K. Hershberger and K. K. Chew: Genetic variation in the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 32, 2471–2477 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Buroker, N. E., W. K. Hershberger and K. K. Chew: Population genetics of the family Ostreidae. I. Intraspecific studies of Crassostrea gigas and Saccostrea commercialis. Mar. Biol. 54, 157–169 (1979a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Buroker, N. E., W. K. Hershberger and K. K. Chew: Population genetics of the family Ostreidae. II. Interspecific studies of the genera Crassostrea and Saccostrea. Mar. Biol. 54, 171–184 (1979b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, C. A., J. W. Valentine and F. J. Ayala: High genetic variability in a population of Tridacna maxima from the Great Barrier Reef. Mar. Biol. 33, 341–345 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gill, P. D.: Non-genetic variation in isoenzymes of acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase and α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase of Cepaea nemoralis. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 60 B, 365–368 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gosling, E. M.: Genetic variability in hatchery-produced Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas, Thunberg). Aquaculture, Amsterdam 26, 273–287 (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  • Guérin, J.-P. and P. Kerambrun: Effects of diet on esterases, alkaline phosphatase, malate dehydrogenase and phosphoglucomutase activity observed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in Tisbe holothuriae (harpacticoid copepod). Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 73 B, 761–770 (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, H. and D. A. Hopkinson: Handbook of enzyme electrophoresis in human genetics, 259 pp. Amsterdam: North Holland 1976

    Google Scholar 

  • Hebert, P. D. N.: Phenotypic variability of lactate dehydrogenase in Daphnia magna. J. exp. Zool. 186, 33–38 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lassen, H. H. and F. J. Turano: Clinal variation and heterozygote deficit at the Lap-locus in Mytilus edulis. Mar. Biol. 49, 245–254 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Levinton, J. S. and R. K. Koehn: Population genetics of mussels. In: Marine mussels, their ecology and physiology, pp 357–384. Ed. B. L. Bayne. Cambridge: University Press 1976

    Google Scholar 

  • Mathers, N. F.: Environmental variability at the phosphoglucose isomerase locus in the genus Chlamys. Biochem. Syst. Ecol. 3, 123–127 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, K. and D. Hedgecock: Enzyme polymorphism and adaptive strategy in the decapod Crustacea. Am. Nat. 116, 238–280 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nikiforov, S. M. and S. M. Dolganov: Genetic variation of the Japanese scallop Patinopecten yessoensis from the Vostok Bay, Sea of Japan. Biol. Morya, Vladivostok 2, 46–50 (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  • Oxford, G. S.: Food induced esterase phenocopies in the snail Cepaea nemoralis. Heredity, Edinb. 35, 361–370 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Poulik, M. D.: Starch gel electrophoresis in a discontinuous system of buffers. Nature, Lond. 180, 1477–1479 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Powell, J. R.: Protein variation in natural populations of animals. Evolutionary Biol. 8, 79–119 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruvinsky, A. O., Yu. I. Lobkov and D. K. Belyaev: Spontaneous and induced activation of genes affecting the phenotypic expression of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase in Daphnia pulex. I. Intraclonal variation in the electrophoretic mobility of G6PD. Molec. gen. Genetics 189, 485–489 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  • Scopes, R. K.: Methods for starch gel electrophoresis of sarcoplasmic proteins. Biochem. J. 107, 139–150 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Selander, R. K.: Behaviour and genetic variation in natural populations. Am. Zool. 10, 53–66 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh, R. S.: Genetic heterogeneity within electrophoretic “alleles” and the pattern of variation among loci in Drosophila pseudoobscura. Genetics, Austin, Tex. 93, 997–1018 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Skibinski, D. O. F., J. A. Beardmore and T. F. Cross: Aspects of the population genetics of Mytilus (Mytilidae; Mollusca) in the British Isles. Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 19, 137–183 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, P. J. and Y. Fujio: Genetic variation in marine teleosts: high variability in habitat specialists and low variability in habitat generalists. Mar. Biol. 69, 7–20 (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  • Spiess, E. B.: Genes in populations, 780 pp. New York: John Wiley & Sons Inc. 1977

    Google Scholar 

  • Tracey, M. L., N. F. Bellet and C. D. Gravem: Excess allozyme homozygosity and breeding population structure in the mussel Mytilus californianus. Mar. Biol. 32, 303–311 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wall, J. R., S. R. Wall and M. Castagna: Enzyme polymorphisms and genetic variation in the bay scallop, Argopecten irradians. Genetics, Austin, Tex. 83 (3: Part 1), Suppl. p. 81 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkins, N. P.: Length-correlated changes in heterozygosity at an enzyme locus in the scallop (Pecten maximus L.). Anim. Blood Grps biochem. Genet. 9, 69–77 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkins, N. P. and N. F., Mathers: Phenotypes of phosphoglucose isomerase in some bivalve molluscs. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 48 B, 599–611 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. N.E.R.C. Unit of Marine Invertebrate Biology, Marine Science Laboratories, LL59 5EH, Menai Bridge, Gwynedd, North Wales, UK

    A. R. Beajmont & C. M. Beveridge

Authors
  1. A. R. Beajmont
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. M. Beveridge
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by J. Mauchline, Oban

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Beajmont, A.R., Beveridge, C.M. Electrophoretic survey of genetic variation in Pecten maximus, Chlamys opercularis, C. varia and C. distorta from the Irish Sea. Marine Biology 81, 299–306 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393224

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393224

Keywords

Search

Navigation