Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5513/JCEA01/26.1.4503
Variability of mitochondrial DNA control region in the Adriatic populations of European sardine Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum 1792)
Tea TOMLJANOVIĆ
orcid.org/0000-0002-5917-3315
; University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture, Svetošimunska c. 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
*
Andrea REZIĆ
; University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture, Svetošimunska c. 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Daniel MATULIĆ
orcid.org/0000-0002-2724-8407
; University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture, Svetošimunska c. 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Natalija TOPIĆ POPOVIĆ
orcid.org/0000-0002-8897-0014
; Laboratory for Aquaculture Biotechnology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Rozelindra ČOŽ-RAKOVAC
; Laboratory for Aquaculture Biotechnology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Mario LOVRINOV
; Maribu d.o.o., Put za Marleru 29, 52204 Ližnjan, Croatia
Ivančica STRUNJAK-PEROVIĆ
orcid.org/0000-0002-6791-7513
; Laboratory for Aquaculture Biotechnology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
This study found exceptionally high haplotype diversity within the sampled European sardine populations in the Croatian Adriatic Sea using mtDNA analysis with each individual possessing a unique haplotype. This suggests a high degree of genetic variation within the Croatian sardine populations. Despite high haplotype diversity, the analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed low genetic differentiation between the two sampled locations (Ližnjan and Dugi Otok). The majority of genetic variation (92.82%) was found within populations, rather than between them (Fst = 0.072). The median-joining network also did not show a clear separation between the two locations' haplotypes. The low genetic differentiation and lack of clear separation in the haplotype network suggest high gene flow between the Ližnjan and Dugi Otok populations. This might be attributed to the proximity of the two sampling sites and the high dispersal potential of sardine larvae. While overall genetic differentiation was low, the presence of unique haplotypes in each individual and slight variations in haplotype frequency between locations
hints at the possibility of local adaptation or micro-evolutionary processes influencing the sardine populations. Further investigation with larger sample sizes across a wider geographic area is needed to explore this possibility.
Keywords
Clupeidae; molecular markers; haplotype diversity; genetic variation
Hrčak ID:
329479
URI
Publication date:
28.3.2025.
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