Mitochondrial DNA variability in three Mediterranean populations of Aphanius iberus Original Research Article

The mitochondrial DNA of 86 individuals belonging to three Mediterranean populations of Aphanius iberus has been digested with 13 restriction endonucleases. By comparing the restriction maps obtained, a total of eight haplotypes have been identified, some of which are characteristic of each population. The number of nucleotide substitutions per site between haplotypes as well as the within- and between-population variation shows a nucleotide polymorphism similar to other cyprinodontid species that are not under extinction risk. The high genetic divergence between one population (Villena) and the other two coastal populations could indicate local endemism.