Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite markers in the North Atlantic redfish (Teleostei: Scorpaenidae, genus Sebastes).

Abstract

Redfish {genus Sebastes) are marine, viviparous and commercially important fish of the North Atlantic. For the last 30 years, a considerable amount of effort has been invested to study the evolutionnary relationships and the population genetic structure of tliis species complex. The complex is composed of four currently recognized taxa: Sebastes fasciatus, S. mentella, S. mariniis and S. vivipams. However, genetic studies relying on proteins and/or mitochondrial DNA markers have generally revealed low levels of genetic variation within and between redfish taxa (McGlade et al. 1983; Nedreaas & Naevdal 1991a), and hampered the analysis of young stages (Nedreaas & Naevdai 1991b). Consequently, there was a need for genetic markers with a higher resolution that could detect differences at any level of genetic differentiation (species, stocks), and any developmental stages. We report here the isolation and characterization of eight microsatelHtes from the Atlantic redfish complex that may be useful for a wide range of applications throughout the Atlantic Ocean.