Mitochondrial D-loop DNA analyses of Norway Lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) reveals genetic isolation between Atlantic and Mediterranean populations

Abstract

Nephrops norvegicus is a commercially valuable demersal fisheries species. Relatively little is understood about this species population dynamics across its distribution with previous mitochondrial and microsatellite studies failing to identify significant population-level differentiation. In this study, sequence variation in the mitochondrial (mtDNA) D-loop was analysed from samples across the distribution range. Analysis of a 375bp fragment of the D-loop revealed significant genetic differentiation between samples from the northeast Atlantic and the East Mediterranean (FST = 0.107, P<0.001). Tau ({tau}), theta ({theta}0 and {theta}1) and Fus Fs values suggest the species spread between 10,500 to 19,000 ybp and subsequently expanded rapidly across the Atlantic.