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North Atlantic phylogeography and large‐scale population differentiation of the seagrass Zostera marina L.
Author(s) -
OLSEN JEANINE L.,
STAM WYTZE T.,
COYER JAMES A.,
REUSCH THORSTEN B. H.,
BILLINGHAM MARTIN,
BOSTRÖM CHRISTOFFER,
CALVERT ELIZABETH,
CHRISTIE HARTVIG,
GRANGER STEPHEN,
LUMIÈRE RICHARD LA,
MILCHAKOVA NATALIYA,
OUDOTLE SECQ MARIEPIERRE,
PROCACCINI GABRIELE,
SANJABI BAHRAM,
SERRÃO ESTER,
VELDSINK JAN,
WIDDICOMBE STEPHEN,
WYLLIEECHEVERRIA SANDY
Publication year - 2004
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 - 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2004.02205.x
Subject(s) - biology , ecology , biological dispersal , metapopulation , phylogeography , isolation by distance , population , genetic structure , glacial period , vicariance , genetic diversity , genetic variation , phylogenetics , paleontology , biochemistry , demography , sociology , gene
As the most widespread seagrass in temperate waters of the Northern Hemisphere, Zostera marina provides a unique opportunity to investigate the extent to which the historical legacy of the last glacial maximum (LGM18 000–10 000 years bp ) is detectable in modern population genetic structure. We used sequences from the nuclear rDNA–internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and chloroplast mat K‐intron, and nine microsatellite loci to survey 49 populations (> 2000 individuals) from throughout the species’ range. Minimal sequence variation between Pacific and Atlantic populations combined with biogeographical groupings derived from the microsatellite data, suggest that the trans ‐Arctic connection is currently open. The east Pacific and west Atlantic are more connected than either is to the east Atlantic. Allelic richness was almost two‐fold higher in the Pacific. Populations from putative Atlantic refugia now represent the southern edges of the distribution and are not genetically diverse. Unexpectedly, the highest allelic diversity was observed in the North Sea–Wadden Sea–southwest Baltic region. Except for the Mediterranean and Black Seas, significant isolation‐by‐distance was found from ~150 to 5000 km. A transition from weak to strong isolation‐by‐distance occurred at ~150 km among northern European populations suggesting this scale as the natural limit for dispersal within the metapopulation. Links between historical and contemporary processes are discussed in terms of the projected effects of climate change on coastal marine plants. The identification of a high genetic diversity hotspot in Northern Europe provides a basis for restoration decisions.