Random amplified polymorphic DNA assessment of diversity in western Mediterranean populations of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica

• Published in: American journal of botany Vol. 90; no. 3; pp. 364 - 369
• Main Authors: Jover, Maria Angeles, del Castillo-Agudo, Lucas, Garcia-Carrascosa, Manuel, Segura, Juan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Botanical Soc America 01.03.2003; Botanical Society of America; Botanical Society of America, Inc
• Subjects: Biodiversity; clonal analysis; Coasts; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; Ecological genetics; Genetic diversity; Genetic variation; genotypic and genetic diversity; Marine; Marine ecology; Meadows; Plants; Population Biology; Population ecology; Population genetics; population structure; Posidonia oceanica; RAPDs; seagrass; Tyrrhenian Sea; MED, Tyrrhenian Sea; MED, Italy; Mediterranean Region; MED, Western Mediterranean
• ISSN: 0002-9122; 1537-2197
• DOI: 10.3732/ajb.90.3.364

Posidonia oceanica is an endemic Mediterranean seagrass species that has often been assumed to contain low levels of genetic diversity. Random amplified polymorfic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to assess genetic diversity among five populations from three geographical regions (north, central, and south) of the western Mediterranean Sea. Stranded germinating seeds from one of the central populations were also included in the analysis. Forty-one putative genets were identified among 76 ramets based on 28 RAPD markers. Genotypic diversity strongly depended on the spatial structure, age, and maturity of the meadows. The lowest clonal diversity was found in the less structured and youngest prairies. Conversely, a high genotypic diversity was found in the highly structured meadows. The genotypic diversity in these meadows was at the same level as in P. australis and higher than previously reported data for P. oceanica populations in the Tyrrhenian Sea near the coast of Italy.