IDENTIFICATION OF MARINE INVERTEBRATE LARVAE BY MEANS OF PCR-RAPD SPECIES-SPECIFIC MARKERS

We used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to randomly amplify polymorphic DNA (RAPD) to identify species-specific genetic markers for five species of gorgonian corals. Using PCR-RAPDs, we can identify adult gorgonians as well as larvae collected in the field. This technique can be applied to any organism in which identification based on morphologic traits is difficult. Identification of larvae allows more detailed studies of early life histories of marine organisms and studies of the subsequent effects on the dynamics and genetic structure of adult populations.