The spatial distribution of neutral genetic diversity is mainly influenced by barriers to dispersal. The nature of such barriers varies according to the dispersal means and capabilities of the organisms concerned. Although these barriers are often obvious on land, in the ocean they can be more difficult to identify. Determining the relative influence of physical and biotic factors on genetic connectivity remains a major challenge for marine ecologists. Here, we compare gene flow patterns of 7 littoral fish species from 6 families with a range of early-life-history traits sampled at the same geographic locations across common environmental discontinuities in the form of oceanic fronts in the Western Mediterranean. We show that these fronts represent major barriers to gene flow and have a strong influence on the population genetic structure of some fish species. We also found no significant relation between the early-life-history traits most commonly investigated (egg type, pelagic larval duration, and inshore-offshore spawning) and gene flow patterns, suggesting that other life-history factors should deserve attention. The fronts analyzed and the underlying physical mechanisms are not site-specific but common among the oceans, suggesting the generality of our findings.gene flow ͉ microsatellite ͉ ocean circulation ͉ pelagic stages

Aim To investigate the phylogeography of the aposematic wood tiger moth (Parasemia plantaginis) across its Holarctic distribution and to explore how its genetic structure relates to geographical differences in hindwing warning coloration of males and females. Males have polymorphic hindwing coloration, while female hindwing coloration varies continuously, but no geographical analyses of coloration or genetic structure exist.Location The Holarctic. MethodsWe sequenced a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI) from 587 specimens. We also examined more current population structure by genotyping 569 specimens at 10 nuclear microsatellite loci. Species distribution modelling for present conditions and the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) was performed to help understand genetic structure. Geographical patterns in hindwing warning coloration were described from 1428 specimens and compared to the genetic analyses. ResultsWe found only two instances of genetic divergence that coincided with distinct, yet imperfect, shifts in male hindwing coloration in the Caucasus region and Japan. A shift in female hindwing colour did not appear to be associated with genetic structure. A change from sexual monomorphism to sexual dimorphism was also observed. Mitogenetic (mtDNA) structure does not show the influence of glacial refugia during the LGM. Climate shifts following the LGM appear to have isolated the red Caucasus populations and other southerly populations. Populations at opposite ends of the moth's distribution showed high levels of differentiation in the microsatellite data analysis compared to the shallow mitogenetic structure, supporting a more recent divergence.Main conclusions Parasemia plantaginis populations appeared to have been historically well connected, but current populations are much more differentiated. This raises the possibility that incipient speciation may be occurring in portions of the species' distribution. Some changes in colour align to genetic differences, but others do not, which suggests a role for selective and nonselection based influences on warning signal variation.

Many animals protect themselves from predation with chemicals, both self-made or sequestered from their diet. The potential drivers of the diversity of these chemicals have been long studied, but our knowledge of these chemicals and their acquisition mode is heavily based on specialist herbivores that sequester their defenses. The wood tiger moth (Arctia plantaginis, Linnaeus, 1758) is a well-studied aposematic species, but the nature of its chemical defenses has not been fully described . Here, we report the presence of two methoxypyrazines, 2-sec-butyl-3-methoxypyrazine and 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine, in the moths’ defensive secretions. By raising larvae on an artificial diet, we confirm, for the first time, that their defensive compounds are produced de novo rather than sequestered from their diet. Pyrazines are known for their defensive function in invertebrates due to their distinctive odor, inducing aversion and facilitating predator learning. While their synthesis has been suspected, it has never previously been experimentally confirmed. Our results highlight the importance of considering de novo synthesis, in addition to sequestration, when studying the defensive capabilities of insects and other invertebrates.

The accurate identification of genetic partitioning is of primarily importance when devising conservation management strategies for today’s marine resources. The great variety of genetic structure displayed by demersal species underscores the need for the identification of common patterns that can be found across species. Here, we analyse allele frequency variation at 10 microsatellite loci of two congener demersal fish, the red mullet ( Mullus barbatus ) and the striped red mullet ( Mullus surmuletus ), from the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The results indicate that two different gene flow patterns exist between these species. The red mullet’s genetic distribution was found to be highly structured, resembling that of a metapopulation composed by independent, self-recruiting subpopulations with some connections between them. The striped red mullet displayed less genetic heterogeneity within the Mediterranean Sea and a substantial gene flow reduction between the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Our results indicate that gene flow patterns in the demersal environment can be substantially different between closely related species with highly comparable biology, suggesting that biogeographic boundaries can affect demersal species in a different way despite common ecological features and spatial overlap. We conclude that the delimitation of such boundaries could be determined by the fine differences in life history traits between species.