Are there any distinct genetic sub-populations of sand smelt, Atherina boyeri (Teleostei: Atherinidae) along Italian coasts? Evidence from allozyme analysis

Two hundred and ninety-nine specimens of Atherina boyeri, collected from fiveMediterranean sites (three from the open sea (Chioggia, Catania and Gaeta) and two from rivermouths (the Birgi and S. Bartolomeo rivers) were analyzed in order to confirm previous geneticstudies. Eigtheen loci were scored from 12 enzymatic systems, 3 of which were polymorphic:EST*, PGM* and PGI*. Mean Fst value (0.300, p< 0.05) indicated a high genetic heterogeneity.Pairwise Fst and genetic distance revealed that samples from the river mouths (Birgi and S.Bartolomeo) were grouped separately from the open sea samples (Catania, Chioggia and Gaeta).These results are in agreement with the most recent classification, which considers A. boyeri asa complex of 3 different species.