Genetic diversity and population structure of the rockpool shrimp Palaemon elegans based on microsatellites: evidence for a cryptic species and differentiation across the Atlantic-Mediterranean transition.

ABSTRACT: The rockpool shrimp Palaemon elegans is an ecologically important crustacean species within the European coastline fauna. In the present study, genetic diversity and population structure and connectivity were assessed by examining 21 polymorphic microsatellite loci at 13 sampling sites located along the natural distribution range. All localities showed similar levels of genetic variability. Significant deficits of heterozygosity were recorded, most likely due to the presence of null alleles. Genetic structure analyses revealed two clearly genetically distinct groups within P. elegans but without following any geographical or oceanographic basis. Thus, our results provided nuclear evidence for the existence of a Mediterranean cryptic species within P. elegans, highlighting the need to revis

SUBMITTER: Gonzalez-Castellano I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7329806 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature