Population genetic structure of the endangered limpet Patella ferruginea (Gastropoda: Patellidae) in the western Mediterranean: new evidence implicating marine barriers’ effects

Abstract

ABSTRACT Many studies on population genetic structure of the endangered limpet Patella ferruginea (Gmelin, 1791) have been performed in the western Mediterranean region but the 1622 km of the Algerian continental coastline has been understudied. In the present study, fifty one individuals of P. ferruginea were sampled across seven stations along the Algerian coast. Molecular analyses were performed sequencing a fragment of the mitochondrial gene, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I of P. ferruginea individuals in order to investigate the presence of population genetic structure in the Algerian region and other areas of the western Mediterranean. The results showed significant genetic differentiation among P. ferruginea populations of the easternmost western Mediterranean Sea and the remaining parts of the western Mediterranean. Both the Siculo-Tunisian Strait and surface currents’ instabilities in the eastern part of the Algerian basin could be considered as marine barriers leading to the detected genetic differentiation among P. ferruginea populations in the western Mediterranean. However, anthropogenic pressure (including translocations by ballast waters and overharvesting) could also be an important element influencing the regional genetic structure of natural P. ferruginea populations.