Recent expansion led to the lack of genetic structure of Sargassum aquifolium populations in Southeast Asia

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Phylogeographical study of the brown macroalga, Sargassum aquifolium using nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2, plastidal RuBisCo spacer, and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit-III revealed the populations in Southeast Asia to be homogeneous. On the other hand, genetic differences were detected between populations from Southeast Asia and western Pacific Islands/Guam, suggesting the presence of genetic break between these regions. This further suggests that populations of S. aquifolium may have survived east of Sunda Shelf during the Last Glacial Maximum and recent recolonization led to homogeneity of the populations in the Sunda Shelf region. Recolonization could be facilitated by year-round reproduction of the populations and dispersal of germlings on floating thalli by coastal currents. Restricted current flow across Maluku Sea and directional equatorial current flows could have isolated the Pacific Island and Guam populations from those of Southeast Asia. Our results support the presence of multiple refugia as the source of different lineages of S. aquifolium populations with a lack of secondary contact in the post-glacial dispersal between Southeast Asia and western Pacific as the mechanisms behind the phylogeographical patterns observed.