Phylogeography and genetic diversity of Ophidiaster ophidianus (Echinodermata: Asteroidea)—evidence for a recent range expansion in the Azores. (November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Micael, J.; Rodrigues, P.; Costa, A.C.; Alves, M.J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. Volume 94:Number 7(2014:Nov.)
• Page Start: 1475
• Page End: 1484
• Publication Date: 2014-11
• Subjects: Biology -- Periodicals; Marine biology -- Periodicals; 578.77
• DOI: 10.1017/S0025315414000563
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-3154

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="normal"> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>The seastar <italic>Ophidiaster ophidianus</italic> is a vulnerable and protected species in the Mediterranean Sea but is common on North Atlantic islands such as the Azores and Madeira archipelagos. This work presents new insights into the phylogeography and genetic diversity of <italic>O. ophidianus</italic> from the Azores, based on 67 sequences of the 16S mitochondrial gene and 46 sequences of the nuclear ATP intron 5 gene. Twenty-six samples from the Mediterranean and seven samples from Madeira were used as out-groups. The results revealed that there is a lack of genetic differentiation between <italic>O. ophidianus</italic> from the Azores and the out-groups. All, therefore, belong to the same lineage and argue for a fast and recent range expansion of this species into the Azores. Our results also suggest the existence of distinctive periods of strong gene flow followed by periods of either low or non-existent gene flow between the Mediterranean Sea and this archipelago, which could explain the presence of private haplotypes in all studied areas.</p> </abstract>