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Reproductive isolation among morphotypes of the Atlantic seastar species Zoroaster fulgens (Echinodermata:Asteroidea)

Reproductive isolation among morphotypes of the Atlantic seastar species Zoroaster fulgens (Echinodermata:Asteroidea)
Reproductive isolation among morphotypes of the Atlantic seastar species Zoroaster fulgens (Echinodermata:Asteroidea)
Zoroaster fulgens is a slope-dwelling seastar species that is distributed throughout the Atlantic Ocean. Studies into the population structure and systematics of marine animals have increasingly found that species with a reported cosmopolitan distribution are, in fact, collections of closely related cryptic or sibling species. In the Porcupine Seabight, three morphotypes of Z. fulgens can be found that have a distribution that is stratified by depth. This study investigates the genetic divergence between these morphotypes using sections of the cytochrome oxidase 1 (COI) and 16S regions of the mitochondrial genome. Bathymetrically separated morphotypes of Z. fulgens are reproductively isolated over distances of approximately 1 km while gene flow occurs among morphotypes, along isobaths, over distances of approximately 900 km. Reproductive isolation on the continental slope may have occurred as a result of selection exerted by gradients of depth-correlated physical factors, such as pressure and temperature. However, allopatric speciation with subsequent range expansion may also explain the observed patterns of genetic divergence. Further investigation of radiation within this group may provide important information on the evolution of slope species. Taxonomic revision of the genus is required.
0025-3162
977-984
Howell, K.L.
3bfa5538-0159-4c5a-af48-7962e87e3436
Rogers, A.D.
906fd860-72c9-4e72-ba43-36e78a1f4037
Billett, D.S.M.
aab439e2-c839-4cd2-815c-3d401e0468db
Tyler, P.A.
d1965388-38cc-4c1d-9217-d59dba4dd7f8
Howell, K.L.
3bfa5538-0159-4c5a-af48-7962e87e3436
Rogers, A.D.
906fd860-72c9-4e72-ba43-36e78a1f4037
Billett, D.S.M.
aab439e2-c839-4cd2-815c-3d401e0468db
Tyler, P.A.
d1965388-38cc-4c1d-9217-d59dba4dd7f8

Howell, K.L., Rogers, A.D., Billett, D.S.M. and Tyler, P.A. (2004) Reproductive isolation among morphotypes of the Atlantic seastar species Zoroaster fulgens (Echinodermata:Asteroidea). Marine Biology, 144 (5), 977-984. (doi:10.1007/s00227-003-1248-8).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Zoroaster fulgens is a slope-dwelling seastar species that is distributed throughout the Atlantic Ocean. Studies into the population structure and systematics of marine animals have increasingly found that species with a reported cosmopolitan distribution are, in fact, collections of closely related cryptic or sibling species. In the Porcupine Seabight, three morphotypes of Z. fulgens can be found that have a distribution that is stratified by depth. This study investigates the genetic divergence between these morphotypes using sections of the cytochrome oxidase 1 (COI) and 16S regions of the mitochondrial genome. Bathymetrically separated morphotypes of Z. fulgens are reproductively isolated over distances of approximately 1 km while gene flow occurs among morphotypes, along isobaths, over distances of approximately 900 km. Reproductive isolation on the continental slope may have occurred as a result of selection exerted by gradients of depth-correlated physical factors, such as pressure and temperature. However, allopatric speciation with subsequent range expansion may also explain the observed patterns of genetic divergence. Further investigation of radiation within this group may provide important information on the evolution of slope species. Taxonomic revision of the genus is required.

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Published date: 2004

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 9823
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/9823
ISSN: 0025-3162
PURE UUID: 641f46e1-b8d4-4c94-93d2-c8a6aa41761c

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Date deposited: 13 Oct 2004
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 04:57

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Contributors

Author: K.L. Howell
Author: A.D. Rogers
Author: D.S.M. Billett
Author: P.A. Tyler

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