Genetic structure of Hediste diversicolor (Polychaeta, Nereididae) from the northwestern Mediterranean as revealed by DNA inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers

Abstract

The polychaete Hediste diversicolor is characterised by a high degree of genetic structure among populations. The genetic differentiation has been related to the presence of cryptic species, corresponding to Atlantic and Mediterranean lineages whose divergence may have been driven by vicariance and/or selection. In the present study we used DNA inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers to validate the genetic structure in 9 populations from the northwestern Mediterranean. We also analysed patterns of genetic differentiation among Mediterranean and Atlantic samples to assess the occurrence of further cryptic species in the northwestern Mediterranean. We compared our results with previous mitochondrial DNA data to assess whether nuclear and mitochondrial genetic patterns were consistent. Analysis of ISSR banding patterns showed: (1) a geographical structuring within the northwestern Mediterranean, and (2) a sharp genetic differentiation between Atlantic and Mediterranean groups of populations, confirming the findings from previous mitochondrial DNA surveys. The pattern of genetic variability found in the northwestern Mediterranean is unlikely to reflect the occurrence of cryptic species in this area. On the other hand, our results are consistent with the occurrence of 2 cryptic species in the Mediterranean and Atlantic, whose genetic differentiation may have been driven by vicariance. Finally, the present study further highlights the usefulness and effectiveness of ISSR markers for monitoring genetic diversity in aquatic invertebrates.

Genetic population structure in Nacella magellanica: Evidence of rapid range expansion throughout the entire species distribution on the Atlantic coast

“…The nuclear molecular markers here employed, ISSRs, were used in many studies to evaluate the population structure of marine invertebrates, including limpets (Casu et al, 2005(Casu et al, , 2006Cossu et al, 2012;de Aranzamendi et al, 2008;Fernández et al, 2011;Hou et al, 2006;Maltagliati et al, 2004;Pannacciulli et al, 2009;Varela et al, 2007). Genetic differences among closely related species of Nacella were successfully revealed using ISSRs but not using mitochondrial coding genes COI and Cyt b (de Aranzamendi et al, 2009).…”

Phylogenetically Widespread Polyembryony in Cyclostome Bryozoans and the Protracted Asynchronous Release of Clonal Brood-Mates

“…[34]). Because not all five markers performed equally well for each species, the most informative 2–3 markers per species were chosen for subsequent brood screening.…”

Is Namalycastis abiuma (Grube, 1871) (Annelida: Nereididae) restricted to its type-locality? Evidence from morphological and molecular data

“…Is Namalycastis abiuma restricted to its type-locality? Alves et al Sato and Nakashima, 2003;Audzijonyte et al, 2008;Cossu et al, 2012;Teixeira et al, 2022). Considering Namanereidinae species, Magesh et al (2014b) found evidence for an incipient speciation process within N. abiuma species group using morphological and molecular data.…”