Abstract

This study assesses two hypotheses on the genetic diversity of populations of Gigartina skottsbergii Setchell et Gardner (Rhodophyta, Gigartinales) at the border of the species distribution: 1) peripheral populations display a reduced genetic diversity compared with central populations, and 2) genetic differentiation is higher among peripheral than among central populations. Two peripheral and four central populations were sampled along the Chilean coast and 113 haploid individuals were analyzed using 17 random amplification of polymorphic DNA loci. The genetic diversity was estimated by allele diversity (He), allele richness (Â), and the mean pair-wise differences among multilocus genotypes. All three estimates consistently and significantly indicated a lower genetic diversity within the peripheral than within the central populations. Genetic differentiation between the two peripheral populations was stronger (FST= 0.35) than between central populations at similar spatial scales (FST ranging from 0 to 0.25). In addition, it appeared from the distribution of pair-wise differences that peripheral populations are in demographic expansion after a recent bottleneck. The results are discussed in the specific context of potential overharvesting of these wild populations.