Enzyme genetic variation inBalanus improvisusDarwin (Crustacea: Cirripedia) in the Baltic Sea

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Abstract
Balanus improvisus is an estuarine barnacle that was first reported from the Baltic less than 200 years ago. Enzymes from 15 samples of B. improoisus from the Baltic, the Danish Belts and Swedish west coast were phenotyped using horizontal starch gelelectrophoresis. Observed heterozygosity was 21.4%. Deficiency of heterozygotes was small giving a mean value close to zero for all loci. Seven loci out of eleven showed significant differences in allele frequency distributions between sites. However, only slight environmental or geographic patterns could be seen (in Pgm and Gpt). The distribution of B. improvisus in this area is continuous and the larvae are freely dispersed throughout. Selective forces within the Baltic area do not seem to have been strong enough to bring about clear allele frequency differences in so short a time.