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Villamor A, Signorini LF, Costantini F, Terzin M, Abbiati M. Evidence of genetic isolation between two Mediterranean morphotypes of Parazoanthus axinellae. Sci Rep 2020; 10:13938. [PMID: 32811877 PMCID: PMC7434761 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-70770-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Coralligenous assemblages are among the most species-rich and vulnerable habitats of the Mediterranean Sea. Nevertheless, data on connectivity patterns on species inhabiting these habitats, crucial to define management and protection priorities, are largely lacking. Moreover, unreliable species-level taxonomy can confound ecological studies and mislead management strategies. In the northwestern Mediterranean two Parazoanthus axinellae morphotypes differing in size, color and preferred substrate are found in sympatry. In this study, we used COI and ITS sequence polymorphism to assess (1) the genetic divergence between the two morphotypes, (2) their connectivity patterns and (3) their phylogenetic position within the Parazoanthidae. Specimens of P. axinellae were sampled in 11 locations along the northwestern Mediterranean; in 6 locations, samples of the two morphotypes were collected in sympatry. Small genetic diversity and structure were found within morphotypes, while marked and consistent differentiation was detected between them. Moreover, the less widespread morphotype appeared to be closer to Pacific species as P. juanfernandezii and P. elongatus. Our findings confirmed the limited knowledge on Parazoanthus species complex, and how this gap can have important implication for the conservation strategies of this widespread and valuable genus in the Mediterranean Sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Villamor
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche ed Ambientali (BiGeA) & Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca per le Scienze Ambientali (CIRSA), Università di Bologna, Via S. Alberto 163, 48123, Ravenna, Italy.,International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, HC Andersen 22-24, 1553, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lorenzo F Signorini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche ed Ambientali (BiGeA) & Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca per le Scienze Ambientali (CIRSA), Università di Bologna, Via S. Alberto 163, 48123, Ravenna, Italy.,Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, 69978, Israel
| | - Federica Costantini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche ed Ambientali (BiGeA) & Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca per le Scienze Ambientali (CIRSA), Università di Bologna, Via S. Alberto 163, 48123, Ravenna, Italy. .,CoNISMa, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196, Rome, Italy.
| | - Marko Terzin
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche ed Ambientali (BiGeA) & Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca per le Scienze Ambientali (CIRSA), Università di Bologna, Via S. Alberto 163, 48123, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Marco Abbiati
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche ed Ambientali (BiGeA) & Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca per le Scienze Ambientali (CIRSA), Università di Bologna, Via S. Alberto 163, 48123, Ravenna, Italy.,Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche, Istituto di Scienze Marine, ISMAR, Bologna, Italy.,Dipartimento di Beni Culturali, Università di Bologna, Via degli Ariani, 1, 48121, Ravenna, RA, Italy
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-zi Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027
| | | | - David A. Horne
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027
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