Characterization of genetic diversity of an invasive Lessepsian Migrant, Nemipterus randalli Russell, 1986 from its native and non-native regions using mitochondrial DNA marker

This study assessed and compared the genetic diversity of Nemipterus randalli across its native and non-native regions analysing the mitochondrial DNA D-loop region. Including all the geographical population samples, 68 haplotypes were observed with an average haplotype diversity value of 0.92±0.04. Relatively, a smaller number of haplotypes was observed in the invasive range of the Mediterranean Sea. All other native geographical samples showed high haplotype and nucleotide diversity values. A significant high genetic differentiation value was observed between the native population samples of India and the invasive samples of the Mediterranean Sea. In the median-joining network tree, N. randalli from the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea formed a single haplogroup while other samples from India are clustered into two haplogroups.