Abstract:
The observed pattern of connectivity and the measured genetic diversity can serve to provide useful information for designing networks of marine protected areas (MPAs). This study was conducted to assess the genetic diversity and connectivity in the Indonesian spiny lobster P. versicolor. A section of 535 base pairs of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene was analysed from 130 tissue samples of spiny lobster collected from Manokwari, Biak, Numamuran, Raja Ampat, Fakfak (in Papua region), Ambon, Loloda, Bacan (in Moluccas region), and Jimbaran (in Bali region). We determined 37 different haplotypes. Almost all individuals had a unique haplotype. Intrapopulation haplotype (h) and nucleotide (π) diversities were high for each locality, ranging from h = 0.60–1.00 and π = 0.001–0.121. COI sequences revealed significant genetic divergence among regions (Papua, Moluccas and Bali regions). Overall FST was low, 0,08, and Nm was high, 5.57. High gene flow was found within localities in Indonesia water. We found genetic connectivity of P. versicolor at Indonesia was extensive among marine populations and apparently little affected by the presence of ecological barriers. Despite separation of 2315 km or 1389 miles (longest distance between Jimbaran in Bali and Nabire in Papua), we found closed genetic connectivity among those populations. Based on those results, we suggested a network that includes numerous, relatively closely space MPAs over a broad geographic area to provide protection of marine organism as well as support Indonesia genetic diversity and connectivity.
