title: Genetic structure of Octopus vulgaris (Cephalopoda, Octopodidae) in the central Mediterranean Sea inferred from the mitochondrial COIII gene.
abstract: The polymorphism of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase III was studied in the Mediterranean octopus, Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797. A total of 202 specimens from seven sampling sites were analysed with the aim of elucidating patterns of genetic structure in the central Mediterranean Sea and to give an insight into the phylogeny of the Octopus genus. Phylogenetic analyses showed that individuals from the central Mediterranean belong to the O. vulgaris species whose limits should nevertheless be clarified. Concerning genetic structure, two high-frequency haplotypes were present in all locations. The overall genetic divergence (Φ(ST)=0.05, P<0.05) indicated a significant genetic structuring in the study area and an AMOVA highlighted a significant break between western and eastern Mediterranean basins (Φ(CT)=0.094, P<0.05). Possible explanations for the observed patterns of genetic structuring are discussed with reference to their relevance for fisheries management.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies, 2025 Carthage Salammbô, Tunisia. karima.fadhlaoui@fst.rnu.tn
authors.forename: Karima
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fadhlaoui-Zid
authors.forename: Leyla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Knittweis
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aurelle
authors.forename: Chaala
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nafkha
authors.forename: Soufia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ezzeddine
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fiorentino
authors.forename: Hisham
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ghmati
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ceriola
authors.forename: Othman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Jarboui
authors.forename: Ferruccio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maltagliati
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D003710:Demography; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics*; D051456:Gene Flow; D014644:Genetic Variation; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D008967:Molecular Biology; D049831:Octopodiformes / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D004247:DNA; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV