UC San Diego

A set of seven microsatellite genetic markers were used to examine the population connectivity of the red urchin, Strongylocentrotus franciscanus. I compared four locations in California and two locations in British Columbia (data previously published by Miller et al. 2004). I found significant genetic differentiation between the British Columbia and the California populations, however among the California populations there were few indications of differentiation. I detected some differentiation between recruits and adults within one California population. These results show for the first time that, on a range wide scale, populations of red urchins are genetically divergent. However, on a regional scale, which may be more relevant to fisheries and marine reserve management, there does not seem to be strong genetic differentiation. These findings do not exclude the possibility that there may be substantial local recruitment within populations