Asexual reproduction and molecular systematics of the sea anemone Anthopleura krebsi (Actiniaria: Actiniidae).
In this paper we use allozyme analyses to demonstrate that individuals in Anthopleura krebsi aggregates are monoclonal. Additionally, sympatric samples of the red and the green colour-morphs of A. krebsi from Pernambuco, Brazil were genetically compared and no significant differences were observed between them (gene identity = 0.992), indicating that they do not belong to different biological species. All individuals within aggregates of the green colour-morph were found to be identical over the five polymorphic loci analysed. Such results would be extremely unlikely (P < 10(-11)) if the individuals analysed had been generated through sexual reproduction, thus confirming the presence of asexual reproduction in this species.
Gomes
Paula Braga
PB
Departamento de Zoologia-CCB, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego 1235, Cidade Universitária, Recife-Pe, 50670-901, Brazil. bragagomes@hotmail.com
Zamponi
Mauricio Oscar
MO
Solé-Cava
Antonio Mateo
AM
D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D005819:Genetic Markers; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics*; D012100:Reproduction, Asexual / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012615:Sea Anemones / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D005819:Genetic Markers; D007527:Isoenzymes