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.

本研究对大堡礁15个黑乳海参（Holothuria nobilis，现分类学上称为H. whitmaei）种群的7个多态性等位酶基因座开展了遗传变异分析。本次检测的7个多态性酶基因座通过等位酶电泳技术完成分型，分别为FL-EST、GPI、HK、MDH、MPI、PGM、TPI。关于染色与电泳操作的详细方法，可参见以下文献：Ballment E, Uthicke S, Peplow L, Benzie JAH（1997）《棘皮动物酶电泳分析技术：以黑海参Holothuria atra和绿刺参Stichopus chloronotus为例（海参纲:枝手目）》，澳大利亚海洋科学研究所（AIMS）技术报告系列27：1-47。
遗传变异的基础分析借助BIOSYS-1程序包完成。F统计量、群体聚类分析以及哈迪-温伯格平衡契合度检验均通过TFPGA软件包完成。本研究通过分析基因流，推断大堡礁沿线间距最高达1300千米的黑乳海参种群间的扩散水平，并验证该物种是否存在无性繁殖特性。
本次研究涉及的礁区采样点如下：13-050、21-149、21-151、大布罗德赫斯特礁、戴维礁、戴维斯礁、东礁、希克斯礁、小布罗德赫斯特礁、迈克尔马斯礁、欧泊礁、丝带10号礁、斯塔科礁、特纳礁、白尖礁。