A small-scale study of the population genetics of the common mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus in downeast Maine

Lowery, Iris

Following from abstract: 'This study examines genetic diversity of the common mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) in the Gulf of Maine. Fundulus heteroclitus samples were taken from two locations in downeast Maine in the winter of 2008 and the spring of 2009. Microsatellite data from these two samples were compared with three previously compiled samples (Adams et al. 2006), and significant genetic differentiation was observed between northern and southern Maine populations (Fst = 0.192). The findings of this study represent new knowledge about the genetic structure of the nrothern range of F. heteroclitus and may have additional relevance to other northern estuarine species.' Research recommendations: ... it is clear that further investigations on connectivity between local populations of the common mummichog is needed. Further studies should compare the degree of population differentiation of common mummichogs found in this study with those estuarine teleosts of downeast Maine that are more or less capable of significant adult or larval dispersal. The results of this study should be verified with additional sampling from either CME or WME to confirm the interpretation and integration of these two datasets. 'It would be of scientific interest to determine if the potential for even finer-scale isolation by distance exists in estuaries within the Gulf of Maine and to investigate the presence of local adaptatoin indicated by divergence of functional genes or associated linked loci.' 'studying the level of estuarine connectivity in this region would be additionally relevant to the role of Acadia National Park as an estuarine reserve.' /STUDY LOCATIONS:/ /MOUNT DESERT ISLAND/Northeast Creek/