posted on 2023-05-26, 23:27authored byEvans, Bradley Scott
The Haliotidae is a family of marine gastropod molluscs, of the Order Archaeogastropoda (Schremp 1981). The world-wide family consists of 56 currently described species from temperate and tropical waters of both hemispheres. Approximately 25 abalone species are currently harvested commercially from at least 15 countries, with many more taken by recreational fisherman. This thesis examines the utility of molecular genetic markers in abalone research, with particular emphasis to the Australian fishery and aquaculture industries. The development of microsatellite markers in temperate abalone, and their use in stock structure studies of abalone fisheries in Australia and South Africa are presented. Twenty-two microsatellite loci were isolated from a Haliotis rubra partial genomic library, and their conservation in 12 other Haliotis species is presented. A maximum of 15 of these markers were retained in the most closely related species, Haliotis conicopora, but the species status of this group is questioned. Only 3 of the microsatellite loci examined were retained in each of two North American species, Haliotis corrugata and H. fulgens. Methods for the detection of microsatellite loci in other species is also discussed. A study of genetic variability in H. rubra at eight microsatellite loci in seven Tasmanian, one Victorian and two New South Wales locations is presented. These locations represent both fine (5 km) and broad (> 500 km) scale separation, and reveal a mean He of 0.552, with significant genetic differentiation between Tasmanian samples and those from mainland Australia (F cT = 0.003; P < 0.0001). No significant differentiation was identified between Tasmanian samples, or between mainland samples. Significant departures from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were common, in all instances due to an excess of homozygotes. Evidence for the existence of null alleles at two loci is presented as a factor in the departures from He.
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Copyright 2001 the Author - The University is continuing to endeavour to trace the copyright owner(s) and in the meantime this item has been reproduced here in good faith. We would be pleased to hear from the copyright owner(s). Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Tasmania, 2002. Includes bibliographical references