Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis of genetic variation among Appalachian spring populations of the amphipod Gammarus minus

This study examined the relatedness of spring communities by quantifying genetic variation within and among spring populations of Gammarus minus. RAPD analysis was used to quantify genetic variation among seven spring populations along Second Creek and the Greenbrier River in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. Twenty RAPD primers were applied and 131 polymorphic bands scored in 135 individuals. A high degree of differentiation (F st = 0.62, SE = 0.03), and very low migration rates (Nm = 0.1) were detected among populations within the same stream system. Linear regression and UPGMA cluster analysis indicate a significant relationship between hydrological and genetic distance, suggesting historical migration events. These springs are isolated ecosystems, and can be used as model habitat islands for ecological study or water quality monitoring purposes.