Genetic diversity and population structure of crustacean Paramysis intermedia in Tiab and Gwatr Bay regions using mitochondrial 16SrRNA gene sequencing

The crustacean Paramysis intermedia is one of the most important zooplanktons which is used as food by aquatic animals in estuaries and marine environments. Regarding the existence of this zooplankton stocks in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea، knowledge on genetic structure of this species is necessary for conservation of its biological diversity and gene pool. In present study، genetic diversity and population structure of Paramysis intermedia collected from Tiab and Gwatr Bay regions was assessed for the first time by mitochondrial 16S rRNA sequencing. Analysis of 10 sequenced samples including 365 alligned base pairs of 16S rRNA yielded 339 monomorphic loci، 26 polymorphic loci and 27 mutations، indicating a very low ratio of mutation between the two studied regions in this species. No insertions and deletions were observed. Nine haplotypes were identified in these two regions and haplotype and nucleotide diversity were 0. 978 ± 0. 003 and 0. 035 ± 0. 000، respectively for all samples between regions. Expected heterozygosity for Tiab region was higher (0. 287±0. 164) than Gwatr Bay (0. 014±0. 088). Based on the F- statistic parameter، population genetic distance was 0. 18 between samples of the regions and was significant (P<0. 05). According to the analysis of phylogenetic tree، the separation between the samples of the two regions was obvious. Mean values of Tajima’s D and Fu’s Fs between the two regions were -0. 12 and 2. 51، respectively. No significant values of these tests are indicative of no population expansion between the two regions of Tiab and Gwatr Bay. According to the results of this study، Paramysis intermedia populations of these regions have high genetic diversity especially in Tiab and each of its two populations is a genetically differentiated comunity.