Cytochrome b sequence divergence in the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and phylogenetic relationships among some Perciformes species

The entire cytochrome b (cyt b) gene has been sequenced in eight Mediterranean populations of the European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax and in one of D. punctatus. Our data indicate that both eastern (Greece and Egypt) and northwestern (French coast) populations of D. labrax were genetically differentiated from the Tyrrhenian ones, which were nearly indistinguishable from each other at the cyt b level. The D. labrax population from the Atlantic coast (Portugal) was genetically quite distinct from all the Mediterranean ones. These results strongly confirm the conclusions from previous studies where the same populations were screened for allozymes, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop variation. Seven other species of Perciformes belonging to five different families (Sparidae, Serranidae, Carangidae, Pomatomidae, Sciaenidae) were sequenced to explore the usefulness of the cyt b gene for inferring evolutionary relationships at different hierarchical levels. The data were analysed together with other published cyt b sequences from Perciformes fishes. Our data suggest that the superfamily Percoidea is not monophyletic. At the family level, the Sparidae and Moronidae seem to be monophyletic. The evolutionary relationships among families were not resolved. Possible causes for this lack of resolution are discussed.