Genetic Diversity of Sharpnose Mullet Liza saliens Introduced in Southern Caspian Sea in Comparison with one Native Aegean Sea Population¹

Abstract—Sharpnose mullet, Liza saliens (Risso, 1810) is one of the valuable species in Caspian shoreline and it was first introduced to Caspian Sea from Black Sea between 1930 and 1934. In the present study, we used six microsatellite markers to obtain genetic information for L. saliens from four localities of southern Caspian Sea and for one native population from Greece coastline (northern Aegean Sea). Results showed lower number of alleles (Na = 5.7–6) and higher observed heterozygosity (Ho = 0.74–0.83) in Caspian Sea samples, related to the native Aegean population (Na = 8, Ho = 0.68). Significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg expectations were detected in 19 out of 28 tests. Low genetic differentiation (provided Fst values) among samples was detected, but Behshahr sample was significantly differentiated from all the others. The UPGMA tree revealed three major clusters: the Behshahr sample and Greek population were clustered in two different clades, and the remaining three samples formed another cluster. The low genetic variation and spatial differentiation among Caspian Sea samples may be justified by the recent establishment.