Genetic signature of Last Glacial Maximum regional refugia in a circum-Antarctic sea spider.

ABSTRACT: The evolutionary history of Antarctic organisms is becoming increasingly important to understand and manage population trajectories under rapid environmental change. The Antarctic sea spider Nymphon australe, with an apparently large population size compared with other sea spider species, is an ideal target to look for molecular signatures of past climatic events. We analysed mitochondrial DNA of specimens collected from the Antarctic continent and two Antarctic islands (AI) to infer past population processes and understand current genetic structure. Demographic history analyses suggest populations survived in refugia during the Last Glacial Maximum. The high genetic diversity found in the Antarctic Peninsula and East Antarctic (EA) seems related to multiple demographic contraction-expansi

SUBMITTER: Soler-Membrives A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5666255 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature