Systematic relationships among Florida populations of Argopecten irradians (Lamarck, 1819) (Bivalvia: Pectinidae)

Morphometric and genetic examinations (using allozyme electrophoresis) were conducted on two Florida populations of bay scallops, Argopecten irradians (Lamarck, 1819), to investigate the status of the subspecies A. i. taylorae Petuch, 1987. One other Florida population [A. i. concentricus (Say, 1822)] was examined morphometrically. Morphometric examinations emphasized mensural and meristic characters used in previous systematic diagnoses. Morphometric data were analyzed using analysis of variance and principal component analysis. Scallops taken from Florida Bay (putatively A. i. taylorae Petuch, 1987) were smaller but otherwise not morphologically distinct from populations of A. i. concentricus (Say, 1822) from Pine Island Sound and Homosassa Bay, Florida. Mean Nei's modified genetic distance value shows a close relationship between Florida Bay and Homosassa Bay scallops. Neither morphometric nor genetic evidence supports the proposed status of A. i. taylorae as distinct from Florida populations of A. i. concentricus.