Analysis of population structure of O.cyanea from the Western Indian Ocean using analysis of microsatellite variation: Final report for ProGeCo contract PE4/087/2011

Summary
The aim of the project was to screen genetic variation at 5 microsatellite DNA loci in a series of population samples of Octopus cyanea from Madagascar, to test for genetic differentiation between populations.
The objectives of the project were completed successfully, with three samples from Madagascar plus one outgroup comparison samples from Rodrigues being screened at 6 loci. In summary, the microsatellite DNA results indicate that there is little evidence for genetic differentiation among sites within SW Madagascar and that this area most likely comprises a single genetic population. There is evidence for genetic differentiation at a larger geographical scale across the SW Indian Ocean, but that this differentiation is of a low order of magnitude that is in keeping with some effective gene flow across the area typical of a widespread and abundant marine species with a dispersing larval stage.