Disjunct habitat of cryptic Terebellides (Annelida, Trichobranchidae) species shows a phylogenetic link between polychaetes from the White and the North Seas

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 13; no. 1; p. 22926
• Main Authors: Kudryavtseva, A. A., Novoyatlova, U. S., Chuyko, A., Gaeva, D. R., Vlasov, A. V., Manukhov, I. V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 21-12-2023; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/158/2165; 631/158/852; 631/208/457; Biodiversity; Climate change; Cytochrome; Datasets; Distribution patterns; Ecosystem dynamics; Genes; Geographical distribution; Humanities and Social Sciences; Marine ecosystems; multidisciplinary; New species; Phylogenetics; Phylogeny; Polychaeta; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Software; Terebellides
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49785-9

Understanding the distribution and biodiversity of marine species is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies and maintaining the health of global ecosystems. Advancements in molecular data utilization have significantly improved our understanding of biodiversity within the genus
Terebellides
. In this study, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis on polychaete samples from the Kandalaksha Bay, White Sea, revealing their affiliation with a putative undescribed species of the genus
Terebellides
found in two locations of the North Sea. Interestingly, this species was not detected in the Norwegian and Barents Seas, leading us to propose a disjunct distribution scenario for this
Terebellides
species. This unique distribution pattern might be attributed to the succession of polychaetes by new species, facilitated by the Gulf Stream and a climate change role in driving shifts in species' ranges and altering marine ecosystem dynamics.