印度洋-西太平洋海洋动物谱系地理演化格局

印度洋和西太平洋海域,拥有大量浅海大陆架、边缘海和岛屿,孕育了全球最丰富的初级生产力和渔业资源,尤其是作为该区域陆源物质输入、两大洋能量汇聚中心和生物多样性中心的东印度三角,在全球海洋生物分布和进化中扮演了重要角色。本文结合物理海洋和化学海洋环境,通过线粒体基因和核基因等分子标记研究结果,归纳分析了印度洋和西太平洋区域海洋动物谱系生物地理演化格局及其可能的成因。具体结果如下:(1)雷州半岛-海南岛、冰期暴露的台湾海峡和长江冲淡水等沿岸海区,阻碍了海洋动物在海区间的扩散,南海、东海和黄、渤海广布类群,多由一个星状辐射谱系组成,种群经历最近的数量扩张和区域扩散,而仅分布于南海的物种,一般具有多个深度分歧的遗传谱系,种群呈现出数量平衡状态,同一广布物种的南海和东海种群,因区域海洋环境差异,种群数量动态演化历史不同;(2)黑潮影响区的沿岸广布类群,黑潮海流促进了顺流扩散、限制了跨海流基因交流;(3)东印度三角区,存在"华莱士线"、"赫胥黎线"和"印度洋-太平洋线"等生物地理边界,该区域海洋或咸淡水溯河洄游动物多呈现为分布在生物地理边界两侧的2个遗传谱系;(4)西太平洋,存在与目前东西向大洋环流垂直的南北向跨赤道扩散和基因流现象,可能受到目前南北向随季节反转的沿岸流和深层海流影响;(5)印度洋东西海岸共享物种,受印度洋西向赤道流影响,海洋动物多由东印度洋向西印度洋跨洋扩散;(6)西印度洋广布物种/类群,呈现了两种不同种群分化格局——遗传同质均一种群和深度分化的遗传谱系;(7)东、北印度洋和南海区域共享大量物种,可能是海盆间双向扩散的结果;(8)海洋生物谱系生物地理进化史信息,可以用于地质事件、海洋环流和古气候重建。     

玻璃虾总科系统分类学研究概况及我国玻璃虾总科研究展望

玻璃虾总科隶属于甲壳动物亚门十足目,真虾下目,生物多样性高,形态和栖息环境变化大,世界性海洋分布,从潮下带到千米深海,从极地到赤道海域均有发现,动物地理学特征显著。该总科物种是海洋生态系统和生物群落的重要组成部分,具有重要的生态学和生物多样性价值;是研究真虾类起源与进化的重要阶元;部分物种更是传统渔业捕捞对象。然而该总科也是真虾下目中缺乏系统研究的类群,其生物多样性和分类学研究不完善,所含很多阶元的单系性受到质疑,同物异名等问题突出,更有许多非正式种组有待修订。我国海域玻璃虾总科的生物多样性研究更是匮乏,其种属组成,海域分布,区系特点等鲜为人知。未来可在收集和掌握大量文献与标本的基础上,以形态分类学为基础,结合现代分子系统学和生物地理学,研究其在中国海的种属组成,资源分布和区系特点,进而系统研究其动物地理学特征。     

浮游软体动物长角螺属(Clio)种类的分类学和谱系地理学

许多终生浮游软体动物接近全球分布或呈环球分布,是海洋酸化和谱系地理学研究的良好材料。本文以西北太平洋和北印度洋的长角螺属(Clio)种类为材料,通过测定其线粒体COI基因(mtCOI,55条)和核18S rRNA基因(9条)序列,结合数据库中已有的序列,对该属进行了分类学和谱系地理学研究。结果表明,矛头长角螺(C. pyramidata)和尖棘长角螺(C. cuspidata)在mtCOI基因系统树中均形成4个明显分化的谱系分支,分别为支系A–D和支系E–H。矛头长角螺的支系A为全球分布,中国海及邻近海域可能仅有支系A的存在,支系B、C和D分布于特定海域。尖棘长角螺也存在明显的谱系地理结构,西北太平洋北赤道流南北两侧存在2个不同的支系,分布于吕宋海峡的支系E为一新的谱系分支。各支系内mtCOI基因的K2P遗传距离在0~0.026之间,支系间的遗传距离在0.031~0.089之间。膨凸长角螺(C. convexa)和曲形长角螺(C. recurva)没有明显的地理遗传分化。18S rRNA基因支持支系D为独立种,但不支持其他支系的划分。矛头长角螺和尖棘长角螺内部可能存在隐存多样性。洋流可能会成为物种扩布和基因交流的障碍。     

系统发育多样性和系统发育结构在岛屿植物群落保护中的意义：以福建沿海19个岛屿为例

为了探讨福建沿海岛屿植物多样性的形成与维持机制,本研究在福建近岸有居民岛屿前期调查资料的基础上,补充部分无居民岛屿植物多样性及环境和人口密度调查数据,从物种多样性和系统发育多样性两方面比较了19个岛屿植物多样性及其影响因素。结果表明,岛屿面积是影响植物物种丰富度(species richness, SR)和Faith系统发育多样性(phylogenetic diversity, PD)最重要的因素,纬度和年均降水量也有一定影响。19个岛屿系统发育结构倾向于聚集,植物群落的构建可能主要受到环境因素和人类活动干扰影响。地理距离对岛屿间植物群落系统发育β多样性的变化影响不显著。建议对PD较高的东山岛、粗芦岛、南日岛、湄洲岛、厦门岛、平潭岛、三都岛进行重点保护,并结合实际情况针对各岛屿功能定位制定保护和开发利用方案。本研究可以为多层次的多样性评价指标应用于岛屿植物多样性评估以及群落构建机制分析提供参考,也可以为岛屿生物多样性保护策略的制定提供理论依据。     

虾类遗传多样性的研究现状

同工酶技术已经被广泛应用于虾类群体遗传学及标记辅助选择育种等研究方面.同工酶电泳显示对虾有相应的亚群差异,暖水性虾类的遗传多样性水平高于冷温性种类;连续分布的且在不同生活史阶段所处的栖息地环境变化幅度大的种类往往表现出较低的遗传多态性,虾类群体的多态位点比例和杂合度都较低,养殖群体比野生群体更低.但同工酶电泳技术往往检测不出一些"隐性"或"中性"变异而低估了遗传多样性水平.随着分子生物学技术的发展,从20世纪90年代开始,虾类遗传多样性的研究逐渐向线粒体DNA和核DNA的多态性方向发展.限制性片断长度多态性(RFLP)在虾类线粒体多倍型、物种标记以及比较野生和养殖群体线粒体COI 基因的多态性比较等方面应用普遍.随机扩增多态性(RAPD)技术主要应用于虾类不同地理群体遗传多态性调查,养殖群体与野生群体之间、养殖群体世代之间的遗传多态性比较,该技术得到的虾类遗传多样性水平高于同工酶电泳技术.扩增片断长度多态性(AFLP)技术在虾类中主要应用于遗传连锁图谱的构建,有关虾类的AFLP遗传多样性分析的报道不多.利用AFLP技术对连续选育群体的遗传多样性研究显示,随着选育世代的增加,选育群体的遗传多样性呈现下降趋势,但随着选育时间的延长,群体之间的分化逐渐降低,群体的遗传结构开始趋于稳定,成为一个品系.单一重复序列(SSR)技术主要用于标记种群遗传特异性、不同地理群体间以及野生和养殖群体间的遗传多样性差异.DNA序列分析技术特别是线粒体序列分析技术近年来在虾类遗传多样性研究中的应用逐渐增多.mtDNACOI、mtDNA12S rRNA和mtDNA16S rRNA的基因序列差异被应用于形态相近物种的鉴别、亚属分类、确定个体间亲缘关系和野生与养殖群体间的遗传多样性差异等.为了实现对虾类种群遗传差异的更深入了解,人们把种群遗传结构的研究和系统地理学相结合,即用分子系统地理学的方法来研究遗传谱系空间分布的历史特征,通过种群遗传结构的分析来探讨种内系统地理格局的形成机制、系统发育关系以及现有分布特征,并结合种群的地理分布状况来发现和验证与其相关的地质事件,追溯和揭示种群的进化历程.从育种、养殖以及资源保护的角度出发,人们开始研究野生群体的种质基因库,希望根据群体遗传结构确定合理的增殖策略,制定科学的保护措施,确保虾类养殖业的持续发展.     

气候变化对海洋生物多样性的影响

本文针对国内外有关气候变化对海洋生物多样性影响的研究情况，分别从温度、CO2浓度变化、海平面上升、降雨量、海洋水文结构和海流变化以及紫外线辐射增强等方面探讨气候变化对海洋生物多样性的影响，并从病原生物传播、浮游生物群落结构、海洋鱼类群落结构变化等方面分析气候变化对海洋生态系统的影响．针对全球气候变化对我国海洋生物多样性保护带来的挑战，提出了今后的研究重点．     

任美锷教授获英皇家地理学会维多利亚奖章

我国著名地理学家和海洋学家、《黄渤海海洋》编委会顾问任美锷教授,五十余年来致力于地理学研究,在海洋地貌学和喀斯特地貌学等方面作出了卓越贡献,最近,英国皇家地理学会决定授予他维多利亚奖章。任美锷教授从三十年代初就致力于地理学研究,在自然地理、地貌学、海洋沉积等     

物种分布模型在海洋物种潜在分布预测中面临的大数据挑战

利用物种分布模型(species distribution models or modeling,SDM)估计物种的真实和潜在分布区,已成为海洋保护区规划、外来、物种入侵预测、气候变迁或环境改变对物种分布影响等领域的研究热点。此外,在大数据技术迅速发展的背景下,国外已出现多个面向物种分布模型的大数据集以及应用大数据技术进行物种分布模型研究的案例,而我国,海洋方面应用大数据的物种分布模型的研究却寥寥无几。文章首先就物种分布模型、物种分布模型分类以及其研究现状做了较为详细的叙述,讨论了物种分布模型的大数据需求及所需数据类型,主要从大数据价值链的角度讨论了海洋领域物种分布模型与大数据的关系,具体从物种分布数据和环境数据的收集与大数据、物种数据和环境数据的集成与大数据、物种分布模型的预测分析与大数据3个方面展开。文章就物种分布模型所面临的大数据问题,从加强海洋生物多样性大数据平台和生态系统观测网络的建设以及鼓励海洋领域的物种分布模型应用研究项目的开展两方面给出作者的建议,对未来物种分布模型在我国海洋领域的研究和应用的前景作了展望。     

季风环流影响下的南海海洋细菌多样性特征初探

季风驱动下的南海海洋动力过程有着季节性的多尺度变化特征, 显著影响南海海洋生态系统的演化进程。海洋细菌作为海洋生态系统中物质循环和能量流动的重要组成部分, 对环境变化和海洋多尺度动力过程有着积极的响应。将微生物生态过程与海洋动力过程相结合, 研究微生物的群落结构、动态变化及其与海洋环境过程的耦合, 是目前国际海洋科学多学科交叉研究的热点之一。文章以国家自然科学基金重点项目“季风环流影响下的南海海洋细菌多样性特征及其生物海洋学意义”的主要研究成果为基础, 从南海北部上升流、海洋锋面、中尺度涡旋、次中尺度过程及其对海洋细菌多样性和生态系统可能的影响等几个方面, 探讨当前的研究进展和初步研究成果。     

厦门凤林红树林湿地自由生活海洋线虫群落的研究

2004年冬季在集美凤林类似底质类型、盐度和潮位的海湾地段4个断面,就不同红树植物林中的小型底栖动物数量和自由生活海洋线虫群落进行了研究。结果表明:海洋线虫是凤林红树林中小型底栖动物中的绝对优势类群,占到小型底栖动物的76.1%~96.3%;从丰度来看,旧区白骨壤(Avicennia marina)林中小型底栖动物的数量较少,有污水流过的光滩数量较大;4个断面共鉴定出海洋线虫37种(分类实体单元),其中新区秋茄(Kandelia candel)林中的生物多样性指数较低,旧区白骨壤林中群落具有较高的物种多样性;从出现的物种来看,新区秋茄林、旧区白骨壤林和光滩上出现的优势种和摄食功能群的类型各不相同。从4个断面13个站位进行的聚类分析和MDS标序分析结果推断自由生活海洋线虫的群落结构与不同的红树植物形成的沉积物有关。     

Historical demography of southern African patellid limpets: congruence of population expansions,but not phylogeography

Global climatic oscillations have shaped the contemporary genetic structure of marine taxa in different ways. Previous demographic studies have indicated that various intertidal marine species display genetic signatures of demographic expansion that either pre- or postdate the Last Glacial Maximum. Such expansions and the ability of species to colonise new habitats will influence their genetic structure, but the link between scales of larval dispersal and the strength of phylogeographic structure is not always clear. We analysed a fragment of the mitochondrial COI gene of 11 sympatric species of intertidal southern African patellid limpets to investigate how ancient oceanographic dynamics have shaped and maintained their contemporary spatial genetic variation. Our data show that the patellid limpets investigated display congruent evidence of spatial expansion during the Late Pleistocene or Early Holocene, which corresponds with the establishment of the contemporary southern African shoreline. We argue that closely related and co-distributed southern African intertidal invertebrates responded to ancient climatic oscillations as a cohesive group. In contrast, contemporary oceanographic circulation has shaped the phylogeographic patterns of these limpets in different ways. We show close relationships between phylogeography and biogeography for some species, but not for others, despite the similarities in their life histories and exposure to the same climatic changes.     

Phylogeography of New Zealand's coastal benthos

During the past 30 years, 42 molecular studies have been undertaken in New Zealand to examine the phylogeography of coastal benthic invertebrates and plants. Here, we identify generalities and/or patterns that have emerged from this research and consider the processes implicated in generating genetic structure within populations. Studies have used various molecular markers and examined taxonomic groups with a range of life histories and dispersal strategies. Genetic disjunctions have been identified at multiple locations, with the most frequently observed division occurring between northern and southern populations at the top of the South Island. Although upwelling has been implicated as a cause of this disjunction, oceanographic evidence is lacking and alternative hypotheses exist. A significant negative correlation between larval duration and genetic differentiation (r² = 0.39, P < 0.001, n = 29) across all studies suggests that larval duration might be used as a proxy for dispersal potential. However, among taxa with short larval durations (<10 days) there was greater variability in genetic differentiation than among taxa with longer pelagic periods. This variability implies that when larval duration is short, other factors may determine dispersal and connectivity among populations. Although there has been little congruence between the phylogeographic data and recognised biogeographic regions, recent research has resolved population subdivision at finer spatial scales corresponding more closely with existing biogeographic classifications. The use of fast‐evolving and ecologically significant molecular markers in hypothesis‐driven research could further improve our ability to detect population subdivision and identify the processes structuring marine ecosystems.     

Fine‐scale phylogeography reveals cryptic biodiversity in Pederson's cleaner shrimp,Ancylomenes pedersoni (Crustacea: Caridea: Palaemonidae), along the Florida Reef Tract

Populations of continuously distributed marine organisms that disperse via pelagic larvae are often assumed to exist in a state of genetic panmixia because of their potential ability for long‐distance dispersal. However, obligate symbionts may have more restricted gene flow due to recruitment limitations, making host specificity an important potential driver of biodiversity. To explore the tension between broad dispersal ability and limited recruitment potential, we used sequences of mtDNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) to assess the fine‐scale phylogeography of the cleaner shrimp, Ancylomenes pedersoni, an obligate symbiont of sea anemones, along 300 km of the Florida Reef Tract (FRT). The results indicate high genetic diversity within A. pedersoni populations along the FRT. Pair‐wise ?_ST values indicate significant genetic structuring between northern (Fort Lauderdale and Upper Keys) and southwestern (Lower Keys) populations, with significant isolation by distance. Two divergent COI haplotype lineages were detected through statistical parsimony analysis: one evenly distributed across the entire FRT (Clade 1) and one found primarily in two sample localities in the Lower Keys (Clade 2). Phylogenetic analyses using 16S‐rDNA indicates that this genetic diversity is of paraphyletic origin, and possibly the result of multiple colonization events. These results reveal a complex demographic and evolutionary history for A. pedersoni populations and provide the first evidence of highly divergent intra‐specific lineages independently colonizing the FRT. Because the FRT is a highly impacted coral reef system, understanding phylogeographic patterns along it has value beyond documentation of the factors that generate genetic diversity in tropical reef systems: these data are critical for creating scientifically based management strategies.     

Phylogeography of the pelagic fish Seriola lalandi at different scales: confirmation of inter-ocean population structure and evaluation of southern African genetic diversity

The study investigated the global and regional phylogeography of the yellowtail kingfish Seriola lalandi by examining genetic diversity and population genetic structure of this species at inter-and intra-ocean level and on a regional scale. DNA fragments of two mitochondrial genes, cytochrome b (Cytb) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and one nuclear gene, recombination activating gene 1 (RAG1), were sequenced to investigate the global-scale phylogeography of this species. The population genetic structure within the South Pacific, as well as along the South African coastline, was examined further using six microsatellite markers. Three distinct clades were identified for S. lalandi, which correspond with previously described subspecies of the North-East Pacific, North-West Pacific and the Southern Hemisphere. Within the latter, additional divergence was observed between the South Pacific and the South-East Atlantic regions. Divergence estimates were indicative of a Pacific origin for S. lalandi populations, because of Pleistocene vicariant events. Microsatellite analyses revealed overall significant genetic differentiation between South African and South Pacific samples. This corroborates recent findings on the global phylogeography of the species. No population differentiation was observed within South Africa, indicating high levels of gene flow.     

东海近岸带鱼(Trichiurus japonicus)线粒体控制区序列的群体遗传变异研究

带鱼(Trichiurusjaponicus)是广泛分布于东亚大陆架海域的暖温性近底层经济鱼类,也是东海区最重要的海洋渔业捕捞对象。然而,目前的研究报道对东海近岸带鱼群体遗传变异特性认识不足,不利于其种群的遗传资源保护和管理。本研究利用线粒体控制区序列对东海近岸带鱼6个群体191个个体的遗传多样性、遗传分化和历史动态进行分析。在577 bp长的控制区序列中共检测到70个多态位点,定义了121个单倍型。群体总的单倍型多样性较高(0.9911),但总的核苷酸多样性较低(0.0092),群体间遗传多样性水平差异较小。单倍型遗传学关系、Fst值和分子方差分析结果均表明群体间的遗传分化不显著,存在广泛的基因交流。历史动态分析结果表明东海近岸带鱼群体在更新世中晚期可能经历了瓶颈效应和随后的群体快速扩张,这是导致群体遗传多样性较低的主要原因。带鱼较强的扩散能力、洄游行为、海洋环流以及近期的群体扩张可能是造成东海近岸带鱼缺乏显著的系统地理种群结构的原因。研究结果提示,在线粒体DNA水平上,东海近岸带鱼群体是一个随机交配的种群,在遗传资源管理上可作为一个单元进行管理。     

Cryptic diversity of marine gastropod Monodonta labio (Trochidae): did the early Pleistocene glacial isolation and sea surface temperature gradient jointly drive diversification of sister species and/or subspecies in the Northwestern Pacific?

Formation of glacial refugia during the Pleistocene climatic oscillations has been put forward to elucidate the diversification of marine organisms in the north‐western Pacific. The marine gastropod Monodonta labio is one of the most common species in the Northwestern Pacific and possibly possesses cryptic diversity. Here, we investigate the phylogeographic pattern of this species to test the potential mechanisms driving its diversification in the Northwestern Pacific. Genetic information for two mitochondrial genes (Cytochrome oxidase subunit I and 16S rDNA) and one nuclear gene (internal transcribed spacer 1) was acquired to detect genetic structuring and to reconstruct the gastropod's phylogenetic history. Our results revealed that M. labio is comprised of five main clades, and divergence time estimates place their cladogenesis as corresponding to the initiation (c. 2.5 mya) and intensification (c. 0.9 mya) of large‐scale Northern Hemisphere ice sheets. The early and middle Pleistocene divergence times are consistent with the emergence times of the Dongshan land bridge, which would seperate the ancient East China Sea and the ancient South China Sea forming two potential refugia. In addition, the deep trough in the Qiongzhou Strait would possibly act as another potential refugium with the uplift of the Qiongzhou Strait at mid‐Pleistocene. This study suggests that the current genetic architecture of M. labio is probably correlated with glacial isolation and sea surface temperature gradient. We also put forward the possibility that these factors were probably an important driver for the diversification of sister species or subspecies of other taxa in the Northwestern Pacific.     

Mitochondrial DNA variation reveals distinct lineages in Penaeus semisulcatus (Decapoda,Penaeidae) from the Indo‐West Pacific Ocean

Penaeus semisulcatus, the green tiger prawn, is an ecologically and economically important penaeid shrimp in the Indo‐West Pacific region, especially in rice‐shrimp farming and capture fisheries in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, respectively. Genetic variation and phylogeography of samples of this species from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka were studied utilizing different mitochondrial DNA markers, i.e. cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (CO1), control region (CR) and 16S rRNA genes. No evidence of population structure was observed in Bangladesh, but distinct variations were found among the Sri Lankan samples (Φ_ST = 0.04, p = .002; F_ST = 0.07, p = .001), with the western sample differing from the northwestern and southern samples. The Bangladesh population had lower genetic diversity than two of the three Sri Lanka populations. The phylogeography of P. semisulcatus revealed two distinct mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) lineages, one in the Western Pacific Ocean and second in the Indian Ocean. The Bangladesh samples showed highest levels of similarity with samples from Sri Lanka, India and Malaysia, with the Bangladesh and Sri Lanka populations sharing the most common recent ancestry. Among the Indian Ocean samples, high levels of variation were observed in the samples from Iran, indicating admixture of two distinct mtDNA lineages, one shared by the populations from the Bay of Bengal and the other possibly originating from Eastern Africa. The genetic and phylogeographic information obtained in this study will be useful in appropriate planning for management and conservation of shrimp fisheries in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and in the Indo‐West Pacific region.     

Morphological and molecular evidence supports the first occurrence of two fishes,Siganus sutor(Valenciennes, 1835)and Seriolina nigrofasciata(Rüppell, 1829)(Actinopterygii:Perciformes), from marine waters of Odisha coast,Bay of Bengal,India

Marine ecosystems provide a wide variety of diverse habitats that frequently promote migration and ecological adaptation. The extent to which the geographic distribution of marine organism has reshaped by human activities remains underappreciated. The limitations intrinsic to morphology-based identification systems have engendered an urgent need for reliable genetic methods that enable the unequivocal recognition of fish species,particularly those that are prone to overexploitation and/or market substitution. In the present study, however, an attempt has been taken to identify two locally adapted fish species, Siganus sutor(Valenciennes, 1835) and Seriolina nigrofasciata(Rüppell, 1829) of order Perciformes, which happens to be the first record in Odisha coast,Bay of Bengal. The diagnostic characteristics of Siganus sutor are: dorsal fin XIII-10, anal fin VII-9, pectoral fin 15,pelvic fin II-3, while that of Seriolina nigrofasciata dorsal fin VI-I-35, anal fin I-17, pectoral fin 16, pelvic fin 5. All COI barcodes generated in this study were matched with reference sequences of expected species, according to morphological identification. Bayesian and likelihood phylogenetic trees were drawn based on DNA barcodes and all the specimens clustered in agreement with their taxonomic classification at the species level. The phylogeographic studies based on haplotype network and migration rates suggest that both the species were not panmitic and the high-frequency population distribution indicates successful migration. The result of this study provides an important validation of the use of DNA barcode sequences for monitoring species diversity and changes within a complex marine ecosystem.     

Comparative phylogeography and population genetic structure of three widespread mollusc species in the Mediterranean and near Atlantic

Although several studies have evaluated the genetic structure and phylogeographic patterns in many species of marine invertebrates, a general model that applies to all of them remains elusive. For example, some species present an admixture of populations with high gene flow, whereas others exhibit more complex patterns characterized by small‐scale unstructured genetic heterogeneity, even at a local scale. These differences are thought to be due to clear biological aspects such as direct versus indirect development, or the presence of lecithotrophic versus planktotrophic larvae, but few studies compare animals with similar distributions and life modes. Here, we explore the phylogeographic and genetic structure patterns in two chiton (Chiton olivaceus and Lepidopleurus cajetanus) and one abalone (Haliotis tuberculata) species co‐occurring in the same habitat. Samples were obtained from shallow rocky bottoms along the Iberian Peninsula (Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts), Italy, Croatia and Greece, and the mitochondrial markers COI and 16S rRNA gene were sequenced. Our data show evidence of admixture and population expansion in C. olivaceus and H. tuberculata, whereas L. cajetanus exhibited a ‘chaotic patchiness’ pattern defined by a high genetic variability with locality‐exclusive haplotypes, high genetic divergence, and a lack of geographic structure. Shared haplotypes were sampled in both coasts of Iberia (for H. tuberculata) and in the Western and Eastern Mediterranean (for C. olivaceus), potentially indicating high dispersal ability and a recent expansion. The processes underlying the fine‐scale structuring in L. cajetanus remain a mystery. These results are especially interesting because the reproductive mode of the two chitons is similar but differs from that of the abalone, with a veliger larva, while instead the genetic structure of C. olivaceus and H. tuberculata are similar, thus contrasting with predictions based on the life history of the three molluscs and showing that the genetic patterns of marine species may be shaped by many factors, including historical ones.     

Genetic connectivity among populations of two congeneric direct-developing whelks varies across spatial scales

We examined the phylogeographic structure of two congeneric, direct-developing, intertidal whelks endemic to New Zealand, Cominella virgata and C. maculosa. A total of 855 specimens were collected from 23 rocky shore locations and we used them to determine the level of DNA sequence variation at the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene. Cominella virgata and C. maculosa have relatively high levels of haplotype diversity but low levels of nucleotide diversity. Sample sites formed regional groups that were composed of genetically differentiated populations, a finding consistent with their limited dispersal abilities. Cominella virgata showed higher levels of regional differentiation than C. maculosa, and there were also species-specific differences in genetic patterns within some regions. Both species exhibited genetic homogenisation among proximate sites within groups, suggesting some dispersal does occur between areas that are not connected by contiguous rocky shore habitat.