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Genetic structure of the scleractinian coral Platygyra sinensis in Hong Kong

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Abstract

Genetic structure was studied in Platygyra sinensis from six sites in Hong Kong by allozyme electrophoresis using an isoelectric focusing gel (IEF). Seven variable loci were detected using six enzyme systems. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 3.3 to 3.6 in the six samples, and heterozygosity from 0.429 to 0.540. Genotype frequencies were generally close to Hardy−Weinberg expectations. The values of unique multilocus genotype to the number of individuals for each sample (N G/N) and observed genotypic diversity to expected genotypic diversity (G O/G E) were high, indicating a high level of sexual reproduction. Variation in allele frequencies among sites was low (F ST=0.017), as was Nei's unbiased genetic distance (D), suggesting genetic similarity among sites.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (reference number: HKU 7224/98 M).

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  1. The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

    W. C. Ng & Brian Morton

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  1. W. C. Ng
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  2. Brian Morton
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Correspondence to Brian Morton.

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Communicated by T. Ikeda, Hakodate

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Ng, W.C., Morton, B. Genetic structure of the scleractinian coral Platygyra sinensis in Hong Kong. Marine Biology 143, 963–968 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-003-1159-8

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