Further genetic evidence for the reproductive isolation of green sea anemone Actinia prasina Gosse from common intertidal beadlet anemone Actinia equina (L.)

Abstract

Earlier work on Actinia indicated that a green morph, which has been described as A. prasina Gosse, is genetically distinct from the more common A. equina (L.). Sympatric populations of green and other morphs of Actinia were obtained from Fleshwick Bay (Isle of Man) and compared by enzyme electrophoresis and by nematocyst analysis. No nematocyst differences were found, but allele frequencies at several enzyme loci differed significantly. It is concluded that at Fleshwick Bay A. prasina is genetically distinct from A. equina and is a valid species.