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Morphological and genetic variation in Japanese populations of the anemonefish Amphiprion clarkii

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Abstract

Geographic populations of the anemonefish Amphiprion clarkii (Bennett) from 6 widely separated locations off the coast of southern Japan are morphologically different, exhibiting (1) latitudinal clinal patterns in color pattern and meristics and (2) degrees of genetic differentiation. Electrophoretic examination of 7 polymorphic loci (95% level) among 6 populations collected between July 1979 and January 1980 revealed an average genetic distance value of 0.008. Significance was demonstrated for 39 out of 105 (37%) tests of heterogeneity. Averaged over the 6 populations, the percentage of polymorphic loci (\(\bar P\) 0.95) was 24.6% and the proportion of heterozygous loci per individual (\(\bar H\)) was 0.0613. The results indicate that genetic clines are absent and suggest that the morphological variation may not be genetic. Relative isolation of genetic populations may be maintained by (1) localized larval dispersal resulting from a relatively short larval stage, and (2) current gyres tending to trap larvae, increasing the return of juveniles to their adult coastal habitat. Morphological clines may be due to clines in ecological parameters related to latitude.

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Author notes

  1. L. J. Bell

    Present address: Mid-Pacific Research Laboratory, Enewetak, Marshall Islands, c/o Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, Box 1346, 96744, Kaneohe, Hawaii, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tatsuo Tanaka Memorial Biological Station, Miyake-jima, Izu Islands, 100-12, Ako, Japan

    L. J. Bell & J. T. Moyer

  2. Otsuchi Marine Research Center, Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo, Akahama, 028-11, Otsuchi, Japan

    K. Numachi

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  1. L. J. Bell
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  2. J. T. Moyer
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  3. K. Numachi
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Communicated by N. D. Holland, La Jolla

Contribution No. 39 of the Tatsuo Tanaka Memorial Biological Station

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Bell, L.J., Moyer, J.T. & Numachi, K. Morphological and genetic variation in Japanese populations of the anemonefish Amphiprion clarkii . Marine Biology 72, 99–108 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00396909

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