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MEPS
Marine Ecology Progress Series

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MEPS 362:211-223 (2008)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps07433

Genetic variation of the spiny spider crab Maja brachydactyla in the northeastern Atlantic

Graciela Sotelo1,*, Paloma Morán1, Luis Fernández2, David Posada1

1Departamento de Bioquímica, Genética e Inmunología, Facultad de Biología, Campus Lagoas-Marcosende, Universidad de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain
2Departamento de Biología Animal, Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Campus A Zapateira, Universidad de A Coruña,
15071 A Coruña, Spain

ABSTRACT: The spiny spider crab Maja brachydactyla is a decapod crustacean that inhabits the northeastern Atlantic, from the British Isles to Senegal, and is the target of intense fishing activity. In the absence of previous genetic studies, we describe the genetic variability and structure of this species along Atlantic European coasts, paying special attention to the northwestern Iberian Peninsula (Galicia), where this species may be overexploited. Analysis of 2 mitochondrial fragments and 9 microsatellites indicates that these populations maintain appreciable levels of genetic diversity, most of which are found within localities. This scenario could be explained by quite large effective population sizes and noticeable levels of gene flow. M. brachydactyla in the northeastern Atlantic do not show any signs of a genetic bottleneck, and effectively conform to a diverse metapopulation with limited structure.


KEY WORDS: Genetic diversity · Gene flow · Effective population size · MtDNA · Microsatellites · Crab population genetics · Phylogeography


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Cite this article as: Sotelo G, Morán P, Fernández L, Posada D (2008) Genetic variation of the spiny spider crab Maja brachydactyla in the northeastern Atlantic. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 362:211-223. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps07433

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