Nuclear DNA Markers Reveal Low Levels of Genetic Divergence among Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Populations of Striped Bass

Abstract

Abstract Populations of striped bass Morone saxatilis from six Atlantic coast locations and one Gulf of Mexico location were examined with polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism assays at three independent, single-copy nuclear loci. Most alleles were present in all populations, and no allele was fixed in any population. Low levels of genetic divergence were observed among all populations. However, allele frequencies differed significantly between populations in the Gulf of Mexico and the Canadian maritime provinces. These results are consistent with those obtained previously with mitochondrial DNA markers.