Population genetic studies of horse mackerel Trachurus trecae and Trachurus trachurus capensis off Angola

Abstract

Genetic variability of the Kunene horse mackerel Trachurus trecae and the Cape horse mackerel Trachurus trachurus capensis was examined using starch gel electrophoresis of enzymatic proteins on individuals collected along the Angolan coast. Six polymorphic enzyme loci were found in both species. The idh-2* locus displayed differences between the two species, and several alleles at different loci exhibited different allele frequencies between the two species, indicating that they are genetically different. Significant differences found in the distribution of allele frequencies between Kunene horse mackerel from the Benguela region of Angola indicated that this species consist of more than one randomly mating population in Angolan waters.

Keywords: Angolan coast, horse mackerel, isozymes, population studies, species identification

African Journal of Marine Science 2002, 24: 49–56