SCHIZAS, N.V*; BROWNE, W.E.; University of Puerto Rico, Mayag�ez; University of Hawaii, Kewalo Marine Lab: The genetic population structure of Caribbean populations of the banded coral shrimp Stenopus hispidus

The extreme biphasic life-history of the red banded coral shrimp Stenopus hispidus presents an opportunity to examine the population genetics of an evolutionarily successful, circumtropical lineage. Patterns of DNA polymorphism in S. hispidus from populations in Puerto Rico, Belize, and Panama have been investigated. Gene flow analysis of three mitochondrial genes (Cytochrome b, Cytochrome c Oxidase Subunit I, and 12sRNA) suggests a single, cohesive, Caribbean-wide population. Interestingly, an excess of rare mutations was detected. Excessive numbers of new mutations suggest specific scenarios consistent with patterns of genetic variation expected from an expanding, or recently expanded, population.