Phylogeography of Cold Water Soft Coral Alcyonium spp. (Anthozoa, Octocorallia: Alcyonacea) Between South America and the West Antarctic Peninsula.

ABSTRACT: The Antarctic marine environment has a unique geologic and climatic history that has contributed to the evolution of high species diversity. Given the current trend of environmental warming, understanding the history of Antarctic species is crucial for predicting the impact of climate change on ecosystem function. Soft corals are a group of striking presence in the benthic marine assemblages in the Southern Ocean, which is recognized as a biodiversity hotspot. DNA sequences (Cox1, mtMutS, and 28S rDNA) were utilized for molecular phylogenetic reconstructions, species delimitations, and divergence estimations to investigate the spatial patterns of genetic diversity in Alcyonium species in the southern South American-Antarctic region. Significant genetic divergence was observed betwee

SUBMITTER: Bruning P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11612023 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature