Variation at Nuclear Loci in the Japanese Sea Cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka, 1867) (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) in Samples from Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan

The genetic diversity of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus was assessed using five microsatellite markers. A total of 122 specimens of sea cucumber from five samples collected in Peter the Great Bay (Sea of Japan) were examined. All loci were polymorphic. For all samples and loci, the average value of the observed heterozygosity was 0.461 +/- 0.027 and the expected heterozygosity was 0.575 +/- 0.031. The values of the inbreeding coefficient were, on average, greater than zero due to the deficiency of heterozygotes. Null alleles were identified for some microsatellite loci. After their detection, genotyping errors and statistical data were corrected. The presence of null alleles caused a 1.5-2-fold decrease in the value of observed heterozygosity and led to deviations from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

Automated summary

The genetic diversity of Apostichopus japonicus in Peter the Great Bay was assessed using five microsatellite markers. The study revealed polymorphism in all loci and a deficiency of heterozygotes, resulting in an average inbreeding coefficient greater than zero. Additionally, null alleles were detected at some microsatellite loci, leading to a decrease in observed heterozygosity and deviations from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.