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Dispersal barriers and isolation among deep‐sea mussel populations (Mytilidae: Bathymodiolus ) from eastern Pacific hydrothermal vents
Author(s) -
Won Y.,
Young C. R.,
Lutz R. A.,
Vrijenhoek R. C.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
molecular ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.619
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1365-294X
pISSN - 0962-1083
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-294x.2003.01726.x
Subject(s) - biology , hydrothermal vent , biological dispersal , gene flow , mytilidae , ecology , population , mussel , ridge , oceanography , paleontology , bivalvia , mollusca , geology , genetic variation , biochemistry , demography , sociology , gene , hydrothermal circulation
Deep‐sea hydrothermal vent species are widely dispersed among habitat islands found along the global mid‐ocean ridge system. We examine factors that affect population structure, gene flow and isolation in vent‐endemic mussels of the genus Bathymodiolus from the eastern Pacific Ocean. Mussels were sampled from localities including the Galapagos Rift (GAR, 0°48′ N; 86°10′ W) and the East Pacific Rise (EPR, 13° N to 32° S latitude) across a maximum distance of 4900 km. The sampled range crossed a series of topographical features that interrupt linear aspects of the ridge system, and it encompassed regions of strong cross‐axis currents that could impede along‐axis dispersal of mussel larvae. Examinations of mitochondrial DNA sequences and allozyme variation revealed significant barriers to gene flow along the ridge axis. All populations from the GAR and EPR from 13° N to 11° S were homogeneous genetically and appeared to experience unimpeded high levels of interpopulational gene flow. In contrast, mussels from north and south of the Easter Microplate were highly divergent (4.4%), possibly comprising sister‐species that diverged after formation of the microplate ≈ 4.5 Ma. Strong cross‐axis currents associated with inflated bathymetry of the microplate region may reinforce isolation across this region.