Biochemical genetic differentiation between Pomatoschistus marmoratus and Pomatoschistus tortonesei)

Several diagnostic genetic markers were identified in Pomatoschistus marmoratus and P. tortonesei using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) of allozymes. Twenty-one loci were resolved, including the electrophoretic pattern of muscle proteins. The MDH*, PGM-1,2*, EST-1,2*, FUM* and PGI-2* loci exhibited different alleles which were fixed for the two species being analysed. Genetic distance, as calculated by Nei's index, showed a value of 0.413. Environmental hypersalinity, could have influenced the geographical distribution of P. tortonesei.