FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS ON POPULATIONS OF THE DEEP-WATER BLUE AND RED SHRIMP ARISTEUS ANTENNATUS (RISSO, 1816) (DECAPODA, DENDROBRANCHIATA), AS INFERRED FROM AMPLIFIED FRAGMENT LENGTH POLYMORPHISM (AFLP) AND MTDNA ANALYSES

The aim of this study was to integrate existing mitochondrial DNA data relating to the deep-sea blue and red shrimp Aristeus antennatus (Risso, 1816) with data obtained by Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP). A total of 145 AFLP polymorphic loci were scored in 236 specimens collected from one Atlantic and seven Mediterranean sample sites. AMOVA results revealed that the overall genetic variation among-populations was lower (11.81%) than within-populations (88.19%). The genetic variation between the Atlantic and Mediterranean samples was found to be not significant (Phi(CT) = -0.007; N.S.), indicating that the transition area between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea does not act as a barrier to gene flow. Bayesian analysis also demonstrated the absence of genetic differentiation between the Atlantic and Mediterranean populations and within the Mediterranean basin. The results are in agreement with those previously published using mitochondrial markers. Some considerations on the life history traits of the species are discussed.