Population genetics of the banded coral shrimp, Stenopus hispidus (), in the Indonesian archipelago

The population genetics of the banded coral shrimp, Stenopus hispidus (Olivier, 1811) from the Indonesian Archipelago were investigated. We genotyped 387 individuals collected from 11 sampling locations throughout Indonesia at 15 microsatellite loci. Bayesian clustering methods revealed evidence of three genetically distinct clusters. F’ST and FST values are generally low, but significant. This was unexpected given the comparatively small geographic scale over which this survey was performed, approximately 2000km in an East to West orientation, even more so when accounting for the pan tropical distribution and long pelagic larval duration (210 days) of S. hispidus. Factors other than larval dispersal must be promoting population differentiation. In this case, genetic partitions appear to correspond to differing habitat types, possibly allowing selection to augment any oceanographic, geographic or biological barriers to gene flow, the resulting genetic differentiation is a source of evolutionary novelty and could facilitate reproductive isolation ultimately resulting in parapatric speciation.