Contrasting patterns of genetic structure between sister species along a biogeographic transition zone
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1
Universidade do Algarve, CCMAR - Centro de Ciências do Mar, Portugal
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2
Department of Zoology and Entomology, South Africa
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3
CNRS-UPMC, UMI 3614, France
Biogeographic transition zones feature the convergence of ecosystems with distinctive attributes. Species distributed across such environmental discontinuities are thus more prone to develop genetic clines and adaptations to environmental variation. The northwest coast of France encompasses a biogeographic boundary between cold- and warm-temperate marine ecosystems. Distinct hydrographic features characterize northern and southern shores, promoting physical oceanographic breaks that can affect dispersal and connectivity between populations. Furthermore, mosaics of contrasting conditions may affect local patterns of species assemblages and potential adaptive pressures. There, the intertidal habitat is largely dominated by brown algae of the genus Fucus, key structuring species common along North Atlantic shorelines. Fucus spiralis, F. guiryi and F. vesiculosus are sister species with different mating systems. They have extensive sympatric geographical distributions and distinct but overlapping vertical distributions in the intertidal zone. We examined genetic structure and diversity across this major environmental transition zone using neutral microsatellite markers to investigate patterns of differentiation between populations of each species inhabiting the two different bioregions. We found contrasting results between the dioecious species (F. vesiculosus) and the other two (selfing hermaphroditic). The former had higher genetic diversity and structure along the distribution range investigated whereas selfing hermaphroditic species had less and non-regular variability. Genetic differentiation of northern and southern populations of F. vesiculosus was in accordance with an oceanographic discontinuity. We conclude that genetic patterns are correlated with this biogeographical transition zone but this effect is dependent on mating system, a determinant factor affecting population structure.
Keywords:
genetic diversity,
mating system,
microsatellites,
Fucus,
biogeographic transition zones
Conference:
IMMR | International Meeting on Marine Research 2016, Peniche, Portugal, 14 Jul - 15 Jul, 2016.
Presentation Type:
Oral presentation
Topic:
Biodiversity, Conservation and Coastal Management
Citation:
Almeida
SC,
Nicastro
KR,
Zardi
GI,
Pearson
GA,
Valero
M and
Serrao
EA
(2016). Contrasting patterns of genetic structure between sister species along a biogeographic transition zone.
Front. Mar. Sci.
Conference Abstract:
IMMR | International Meeting on Marine Research 2016.
doi: 10.3389/conf.FMARS.2016.04.00099
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Received:
13 May 2016;
Published Online:
13 Jul 2016.
*
Correspondence:
Miss. Susana C Almeida, Universidade do Algarve, CCMAR - Centro de Ciências do Mar, Faro, 8005-139, Portugal, sue.c.almeida@gmail.com