Temporal and spatial genetic differentiation in the crab Liocarcinus depurator across the Atlantic-Mediterranean transition

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 6; no. 1; p. 29892
• Main Authors: Pascual, Marta, Palero, Ferran, García-Merchán, Víctor Hugo, Macpherson, Enrique, Robainas-Barcia, Aymée, Mestres, Francesc, Roda, Tania, Abelló, Pere
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 19-07-2016; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/158/2464; 631/181/457; Animals; Atlantic Ocean; Atlàntic, Oceà; Brachyura - genetics; Crustaceans; Cytochrome; Decapoda (Crustacea); Decàpodes (Crustacis); Fluctuations; Gene Flow; Genetic diversity; Genetic Drift; Genetic Speciation; Genetic structure; Genetics, Population; Genètica de poblacions; Geography; Humanities and Social Sciences; Mediterranean Sea; Mediterrània (Mar); Microsatellite Repeats - genetics; Mitochondrial DNA; multidisciplinary; Phylogeny; Population Genetics; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Shellfish; Spatial analysis; Iberian Peninsula; Ibiza; United States > US; Mediterranean Sea; Atlantic Ocean; Spain
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/srep29892

Spatial genetic studies often require sampling broadly separated areas, difficult to access simultaneously. Although comparing localities surveyed at different time periods might result in spurious genetic differentiation, there is a general believe on the stability of genetic structure through time, particularly if sampled localities are isolated or very distant. By analysing spatial and temporal genetic differentiation of the portunid crab
Liocarcinus depurator
we assessed the contribution of historical and contemporary processes on population connectivity patterns across three main oceanographic discontinuities along the Atlantic-Mediterranean transition: Gibraltar Strait, Almeria-Oran Front and Ibiza Channel. A partial fragment of the
cytochrome oxidase I
gene was sequenced in 366 individuals collected from localities at both sides of each discontinuity during three time periods. Although localities showed genetic fluctuations through time, a significant gradient was detected along the coast for all sampling periods. Significant inter-annual differences identified within the Alicante area, north of the Almeria-Oran Front, were associated with shifts in the relative contribution of Atlantic and Mediterranean water masses. The persistence of a clinal pattern in the Atlantic-Mediterranean transition area together with local fluctuations suggests a complex balance of dispersal and selection.