title: Population divergence of the sentinel crab Macrophthalmus banzai is consistent with regional breeding season differences.
abstract: We compared the breeding season and genetic population structure of six sentinel crab (Macrophthalmus banzai) populations in southwestern Japan. Ovigerous females from Northern group populations (Wakayama, Kochi, and Tanega-shima) were observed from March to September, whereas ovigerous females from Southern group populations (Amami-oshima, Okinawa-jima, and Iriomote-jima) were observed from October to May. Genetic analysis using two markers corresponding to mitochondrial DNA encoding cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and the large subunit of ribosomal RNA (16Sr-RNA) revealed a marked genetic difference between the Northern and Southern groups. A genetic boundary exists between the Tanega-shima and Amami-oshima populations, which is consistent with the interpopulation difference in the breeding season.
authors.affiliation: KYOUSEl Science Center for Life and Nature, Nara Women's University, Kitauoya-higashimachi, Nara 630-8506, Japan.
authors.forename: Misuzu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Yukari
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Mayuko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawamoto
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wada
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003386:Brachyura / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006239:Haplotypes; D007564:Japan; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012621:Seasons