Genetic variation of Diplodus sargus and Diplodus vulgaris in four Mediterranean coastal regions of Egypt based on microsatellites

T. Megahed, Engy; M. Abbas, Eman; F. El Nahas, Abeer; A. Hemeda, Shabaan

doi:10.21608/ejabf.2020.70235

Genetic variation of Diplodus sargus and Diplodus vulgaris in four Mediterranean coastal regions of Egypt based on microsatellites

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

10.21608/ejabf.2020.70235

Abstract

The use of microsatellite is important for determination of regional patterns of genetic connectivity between marine populations which is necessary for proper geographical scale setting.The objective of this study is to employ cross-species primers from Sparus aurata in D. sargus and D. vulgaris in four Mediterranean coastal regions of Egypt for studying their genetic diversity, population differentiation in nearby regions.

Four microsatellite markers (SaI10, SaI12, SaI19 and SaI21) were used among 112 Diplodus sargus and Diplodus vulgaris species. The samples represented four Mediterranean coastal regions located from 31.22° N to 31.62° N and from 29.88° E to 30.85° E. Variable levels of genetic diversity were observed in the four studied regions, SaI19 locus had no heterozygosity in all populations, and better heterozygosity was observed in all loci with SaI10 and SaI21 in D. sargus and D. vulgaris respectively. A low level of variation in both fishes among the four regions was observed amounting to 5% in D. sargus and 8% in D. vulgaris. Meanwhile, a higher levels of variation between individuals within populations were observed amounting to 56% in D. sargus and 71 % in D. vulgaris. In this study the levels of genetic variability observed in D. sargus (0.048) and in D. vulgaris (0.078) were lower than those observed in other Sparidae fishes assessed with microsatellites.In conclusion, three microsatellite loci (SaI10, SaI12, and SaI21) can be applicable in D. sargus and D. vulgaris and could be used in other species of family Sparidae.

Keywords