Similarity in connectivity patterns for two gastropod species lacking pelagic larvae

Abstract

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 357:185-194 (2008) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps07301 Similarity in connectivity patterns for two gastropod species lacking pelagic larvae James J. Bell* Centre for Marine Environmental and Economic Research, Victoria University of Wellington, School of Biological Sciences, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand *Email: james.bell@vuw.ac.nz ABSTRACT: Marine species have a wide range of reproductive strategies that are considered to influence genetic structuring and connectivity between populations. Generally, species without planktonic larvae have reduced dispersal and gene flow between populations compared to species with free-living pelagic larvae. Further divisions exist within non-planktonic species including those exhibiting viviparity and oviparity. Although dispersal potential and population connectivity patterns of these 2 reproductive modes are considered similar, there is little supporting evidence. I examined genetic structuring and gene flow between oviparous and viviparous gastropod populations separated at the same spatial scales (at the same sites). Population genetic structure (using microsatellite data) was compared between island–mainland, mainland–mainland and island–island populations for an egg-laying (Nucella lapillus: oviparous) and a brooding (Littorina saxatilis: ovoviviparous) gastropod species. N. lapillus generally had lower levels of genetic differentiation between populations (RST ranged between 0.01 and 0.20; FST ranged between 0.01 and 0.17) than L. saxatilis (RST ranged between 0.02 and 0.21; FST ranged between 0.02 and 0.19); these differences were small for all site comparisons. Significant correlations were found between genetic structuring and gene flow patterns for the 2 species, indicating similar dispersal routes and population connectivity patterns. This study shows that it may be possible to generalise connectivity patterns (i.e. dispersal routes) across species lacking pelagic larvae, which may be important for Marine Protected Area network planning. KEY WORDS: Connectivity · Dispersal · Nucella lapillus · Littorina saxatilis · Oviparity · Viviparity · Islands · Marine Protected Area Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Bell JJ (2008) Similarity in connectivity patterns for two gastropod species lacking pelagic larvae. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 357:185-194. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps07301 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 357. Online publication date: April 07, 2008 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2008 Inter-Research.