CHARACTERIZATION OF ABALONE, Haliotis squamata Reeve (1846) FROM INDONESIA BASED ON 16S rRNA, MORPHOMETRICS AND BIOLOGICAL OBSERVATION

Abalone is economical marine gastropods.  High exploitation due to the demand of abalone has depressed natural stock. So far status of Haliotis squamata is not clearly define yet. Validity of this species is urgently needed for its utilization and culture development.

One hundred fifty samples of abalone collected from Gondol (Bali Province), Banyuwangi (East Java Province), Pangandaran (West Java Province) dan Binuangen  (Banten Province) waters  in Indonesia. Genetic analysis used the mantle of abalone following the DNA procedure for extraction, purification, amplification of 16S rRNA gen, sequen of PCR product.  The genetic data was then analyzed for genetic distance based on p-distance. The phylogenetic tree was reconstructed by neibourjoining with 1000 bootstraps rooting with H. diversicolor  (AY146397 gen bank code) as an out group.  Morphometric shell was measured on length, width, and the line connecting tip of length and width. Biological observation carried out on gonad and meat weight.  

Abalone from Bali distributed in some clusters and Haliotis squamata differs from H diversicolor (Figure 1). Morphometric data were not signifant different among H. squamata population observed except the population from Binuangen. Population from Banyuwangi has extremely higher in percentage of gonad and meat compare to other populations.  

Phenomena of the Bali population were due to the examined samples came from hatchery which might be collected from several areas.  Banyuwangi population was promising population for aquaculture based on the genetic and biological data.