Ecological partitioning and diversity in tropical planktonic foraminifera.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Ecological processes are increasingly being viewed as an important mode of diversification in the marine environment, where the high dispersal potential of pelagic organisms, and a lack of absolute barriers to gene flow may limit the occurrence of allopatric speciation through vicariance. Here we focus on the potential role of ecological partitioning in the diversification of a widely distributed group of marine protists, the planktonic foraminifera. Sampling was conducted in the tropical Arabian Sea, during the southwest (summer) monsoon, when pronounced environmental conditions result in a strong disparity in temperature, salinity and productivity between distinct northern and southern water masses.

Results

We uncovered extensive genetic diversity within the Ara

SUBMITTER: Seears HA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3361484 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature