Population Structure of Oxynoemacheilu sangorae (Steindachner, 1897) in Gheshlagh (Kurdistan Province), Sefidbarg and Gamasiab (Kermanshah Province) Rivers Using Microsatellite Markers

Oxynoemacheilu sangorae is an endemic freshwater fish of Iran. In the present study, six microsatellite markers were used to investigate population structure of stone loach (Oxynoemacheilusangorae) in gheshlagh (Kurdistan), Sefidbarg and Gamasiab (Kermanshah) rivers. All of the applied loci showed polymorphism. The average numbers of allele and observed heterozygosity were 14.33 and 0.82 respectively, indicating proper allelic richness and genetic diversity of the species in studied regions. In studying deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, 10 cases of 18 tests (3 populations in 6 loci) indicated significant deviation from the equilibrium. In this regard, significant heterozygosity deficiency was observed in some loci. In investigation of the indices of Fst (0.031) and Rst (0.04), low genetic differentiation was observed among the samples of investigated regions. Results from analysis of molecular variance indicated that most of the observed diversity was within populations. Also, the highest genetic distance was observed among Sefidbarg and Gamasiab. UPGMA dendrogram and genetic distance values showed that there are probably separate populations of Oxynoemacheilu sangoraein investigated regions.