Population structure of sea cucumber Holothuria parva using 16S mitochondrial rRNA Gene Sequences in the northern coast of Persian Gulf

In order to investigate the population structure species of sea cucumber Holothuria parva in the two regions Bostaneh Port and Dayer Port, 16S rRNA gene sequencing method was used. In total, 417 nucleotide locus were determined, after investigating in the NCBI database, sequences were consistent with 16S rRNA gene and Samples were verified to belong to the species of H. parva. In total four haplotypes were identified, one of which was common in both regions. Bostaneh Port had 3 haplotypes and Dayer Port had 2 haplotypes. Haplotype diversity was estimated to be 83 percent in Bostaneh Port and 50 percent in Dayer Port. Estimated Nucleotide diversity in Bostaneh and Dayer Ports were measured 0.007 and 0.002 respectively. Low genetic differentiation (Fst=0.000), divergences rate (Dxy= 0.0048) and high gene flow (Nm=1874) between the two regions were estimated. Based on this study Bostaneh and Dayer Port samples have probably diverged from an identical population since a high gene flow and low differentiation is observed among them. There is also a common haplotype, suggesting a common ancestor of H. parva in two regions.