Contrasted levels of genetic diversity in a benthic Mediterranean octocoral: Consequences of different demographic histories?

ABSTRACT: Understanding the factors explaining the observed patterns of genetic diversity is an important question in evolutionary biology. We provide the first data on the genetic structure of a Mediterranean octocoral, the yellow gorgonian Eunicella cavolini, along with insights into the demographic history of this species. We sampled populations in four areas of the Mediterranean Sea: continental France, Algeria, Turkey, and the Balearic and Corsica islands. Along French coasts, three sites were sampled at two depths (20 and 40 m). We demonstrated a high genetic structure in this species (overall F_ST = 0.13), and most pairwise differentiation tests were significant. We did not detect any difference between depths at the same site. Clustering analyses revealed four differe

SUBMITTER: Masmoudi MB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5192949 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature