Trans-Tasman genetic connectivity in the intertidal air-breathing slug Onchidella nigricans

Marine Ecology Progress Series

R. Nikula¹  H. G. Spencer¹  J. M. Waters¹  R. A. Cumming¹ 

关键词: Amplified fragment length polymorphism;    AFLP;    Marine connectivity;    mtDNA;    Larval duration;    Onchidella;   

DOI  :  10.3354/meps11926

学科分类：海洋学与技术

来源: Inter-Research

【 摘 要 】

ABSTRACT: Population-genetic studies of marine invertebrates show that planktonic larval duration of a species is not a perfect predictor of its distribution. The intertidal air-breathing slug Onchidella nigricans presents a prime example of such unpredictability. It has a broad geographic range, occurring on the coasts of Australia and New Zealand, spanning the 1500 to 2000 km wide Tasman Sea, despite having an estimated planktonic larval duration of approximately 3 wk. We used mitochondrial sequences and genome-wide AFLP fingerprint data to quantify levels of regional genetic exchange using samples from 16 locations across 3 major landmasses. We expected to find high genetic similarity between the closest populations but low similarity across large distances and ocean gaps. Instead, we detected a pattern of high genetic similarity of all study populations. We suggest that an extended planktonic larval phase is driving the high genetic connectivity.

【 授权许可】

Unknown