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Vol. 41 No. 4, 2002
Genetic Variation of the Green-lipped Mussel Perna viridis (L.) (Mytilidae: Mytiloida: Mytilicae) from the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia
Chee Kong Yap*, Soon Guan Tan, Ahmad Ismail and Hishamuddin Omar
Department
of Biology, Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies, Universiti
Putra Malaysia, UPM, Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia
Chee Kong Yap, Soon Guan Tan, Ahmad Ismail and Hishamuddin Omar (2002) Horizontal
starch gel electrophoresis was used to estimate the levels of genetic
variation for 8 different geographical populations (Penang, Pulau Aman,
Bagan Lalang, Telok Emas, Sungai Muar, Tanjung Kupang, Pantai Lido, and
Kampong Pasir Puteh) of the mussel, Perna viridis,
collected from the waters off the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
Fourteen polymorphic loci were observed. The observed mean
heterozygosity ranged from 0.108 to 0.334, while the expected mean
heterozygosity ranged from 0.133 to 0.301. The highest mean value for
genetic distance (0.091) was found between the populations of Penang
and Telok Emas while the lowest value (0.004) was found between those
of Pantai Lido and Tanjung Kupang. The populations studied could be
divided into 2 groups by the UPGMA dendrogram based on Nei’s (1978)
genetic similarities. The groupings seemed to indicate differentiation
into local populations. These results suggest that P. viridis
has a tendency to split into a number of geographical populations
regardless of larval dispersal as a potential agent of gene flow. The
mean FST value of
0.149 indicates that the mussel populations show a moderate degree of
genetic differentiation. However, the mean genetic distance from the
present study (0.048 ± 0.004) falls within the range of genetic
distances between conspecific populations of mussels (0.0-0.14).
Therefore, the present study supports the use of the local mussel P. viridis
as a suitable biomonitoring agent for heavy metals. The range of
genetic distance values (0.004-0.091) presented here can also serve as
baseline data to which results of similar studies in the future can be
compared to determine whether genetic divergence of mussel populations
from the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia is taking place.
Key words: Perna viridis, Allozymes, Population.
*Correspondence: Tel: 603-89466617. Fax: 603-86567454. E-mail: yapckong@hotmail.com
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