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Genetic structure among populations of Potamonautes perlatus (Decapoda: Potamonautidae) from the Olifants River system in the Western Cape, South Africa
Author(s) -
Daniels Savel R.,
Stewart Barbara A.,
Gibbons Mark J.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1999.tb00751.x
Subject(s) - biology , cape , hybrid , sympatry , genetic divergence , population , ecology , locus (genetics) , gene flow , genetic structure , divergence (linguistics) , genetic variation , genetic diversity , habitat , geography , genetics , gene , demography , botany , archaeology , sociology , linguistics , philosophy
Populations of Potamonautes perlatus were sampled at various points along the Olifants Rivers (220 km), in the Western Cape to examine the degree of genetic variation. Allozyme electrophoresis revealed a near fixed allelic difference at one locus and extensive differentiation at another locus between populations from the upper and lower reaches of the Olifants River system. Limited hybridization in the region of population sympatry was observed. The narrow hybrid zone and the low occurrence of hybrids suggest selection against hybrids. These results provide evidence for two genetically distinct freshwater crab populations. We concluded that the genetic divergence between the two population groups represents a species boundary between the two populations.