Gene flow between populations of Holothura nobilis on the Great Barrier Reef

Genetic variation was studied at 7 polymorphic allozyme loci in 15 Holothuria nobilis (now referred to as H. whitmaei) populations on the Great Barrier Reef. The 7 polymorphic enzyme loci surveyed using allozyme electrophoresis were: FL-EST, GPI, HK, MDH, MPI, PGM, TPI. Full details of staining and electrophoresis methods are given in:Ballment E, Uthicke S, Peplow L, Benzie JAH (1997) Techniques for enzyme electrophoretic analysis of the holothurians Holothuria atra and Stichopus chloronotus (Holothuroidea: Aspidochirotida). Aust Inst Mar Sci (AIMS) Tech Rep Ser 27:1-47Basic analyses of genetic variability were carried out using programs in the BIOSYS-1. F-statistics, cluster analyses and tests of conformation to Hardy-Weinberg expectations were performed using the TFPGA package.
To infer the level of dispersal among populations of Holothuria nobilis separated by up to 1300 km along the Great Barrier Reef by investigating gene flow.To test whether asexual reproduction is a feature of this species.
Reef locations: 13-050, 21-149, 21-151, Big Broadhurst, Davie, Davies Reef, East Cay, Hicks, Little Broadhurst, Michaelmas, Opal, Ribbon No.10, Stucco, Turner, White Tip.