Abatus Microsatellites data set 2009/13

Study Extent

Individuals of 3 species of Abatus were collected in the near-shore area surrounding Davis Station (68°34’36’’S, 77°58’03’’E) located on Prydz Bay, Vestfold Hills, in Princess Elizabeth Land, East Antarctica.

Sampling

Samples were collected from 5 sites, and the largest distance between any 2 sampling sites was 5 km. Three of the sites are considered heavily impacted: OF (outfall), OF1 and OF2 are within 500 m of the outfall pipe. The 2 control sites are considered to have negligible impact from the wastewater discharge; OF3 is located ~2.4 km from the outfall pipe to the northeast, and OF4 ~2.6 km to the southwest. Moreover, the OF3 and OF4 sites are both removed from the predominant longshore flow that transports the wastewater plume southeastwards along the coast (Stark et al. unpubli.). Samples from OF1 and OF2 were collected at 4.5− 7.0 m and 10−12 m depths, respectively, during the 2009/2010 Antarctic field season, and samples from OF, OF3 and OF4 were taken at depths <4 m during the 2012/2013 season.

Quality Control

Samples from sampling sites OF1 and OF2 were collected during the 2009/2010 summer season. Samples from sampling sites OF, OF3 and OF4 were collected during the 2012/2013 summer season. Depths at which samples were collected: OF1: 4.5-7.0 m deep OF2: 10-12 m deep OF, OF3, OF4 equal or less than 4 m deep.

Method steps

1. For each microsatellite loci, the size of each allele was scored (in base pairs) using the CEQ 8000 Genetic Analysis System software v.8.0. Fragments were separated on an automated sequencer (CEQ 8000, Beckman Coulter) in the Central Science Laboratory at University of Tasmania.

Main goal was to study and compare the fine-scale population structure and demographic history of three species of Antarctic sea urchins (Abatus ingens, Abatus shackletoni and Abatus philippii) in the near-shore area surrounding the Australian Reseach Sation Davis in East Antarctica. A secondary goal was to test potential impacts of pollution from the Davis Station wastewater discharge on the genetic diversity and effective population size of these species

1. Abatus ingens
   rank: species
2. Abatus shackletoni
   rank: species
3. Abatus philippii
   rank: species

Sea urchin individuals were collected in five sites separated by up to 5 km in the near-shore area surrounding Davis Station in the Vestfold Hills Region, East Antarctica.