Variability of mitochondrial DNA control region in the Adriatic populations of European sardine Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum 1792)

Tomljanović, Tea; Rezić, Andrea; Matulić, Daniel; Topić Popović, Natalija; Čož-Rakovac, Rozelindra; Lovrinov, Mario; Strunjak-Perović, Ivančica (2025) Variability of mitochondrial DNA control region in the Adriatic populations of European sardine Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum 1792). Journal of Central European Agriculture, 26 (1). pp. 76-83. ISSN 1332-9049

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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.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Clupeidae; molecular markers; haplotype diversity; genetic variation
Subjects:	BIOTECHNICAL SCIENCES > Agronomy
Divisions:	Division of Materials Chemistry
Depositing User:	Ana Zečević
Date Deposited:	29 Apr 2025 07:59
URI:	http://fulir.irb.hr/id/eprint/9771
DOI:	10.5513/jcea01/26.1.4503

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