Dispersal similarly shapes both population genetics and community patterns in the marine realm

Abstract

Dispersal plays a key role to connect populations and, if limited, is one of the main processes to maintain and generate regional biodiversity. According to neutral theories of molecular evolution and biodiversity, dispersal limitation of propagules and population stochasticity are integral to shaping both genetic and community structure. We conducted a parallel analysis of biological connectivity at genetic and community levels in marine groups with different dispersal traits. We compiled large data sets of population genetic structure (98 benthic macroinvertebrate and 35 planktonic species) and biogeographic data (2193 benthic macroinvertebrate and 734 planktonic species). We estimated dispersal distances from population genetic data (i.e., FST vs. geographic distance) and from β-diversity at the community level. Dispersal distances ranked the biological groups in the same order at both genetic and community levels, as predicted by organism dispersal ability and seascape connectivity: macrozoobenthic species without dispersing larvae, followed by macrozoobenthic species with dispersing larvae and plankton (phyto- and zooplankton). This ranking order is associated with constraints to the movement of macrozoobenthos within the seabed compared with the pelagic habitat. We showed that dispersal limitation similarly determines the connectivity degree of communities and populations, supporting the predictions of neutral theories in marine biodiversity patterns.

Phylogeography and species distribution modelling reveal the effects of the Pleistocene ice ages on an intertidal limpet from the south‐eastern Pacific

“…Siphonaria lessonii exhibited the same high genetic diversity as has been found for other planktotrophic Siphonaria from Australia (Colgan & Da Costa, ; Hodgson, ) and South Africa (Teske et al., ) and higher diversity than the direct developer S. nigerrima (Teske et al., ). Taken together, the present results and those of previous studies reinforce the association between planktotrophic larvae, high dispersal potential and high genetic diversity (Chust et al., ; Layton et al., ; Lee & Boulding, ; Selkoe et al., ).…”

Evidence for interannual variation in genetic structure of Dungeness crab (Cancer magister) along the California Current System

“…Despite the wealth of knowledge surrounding factors that influence genetic connectivity in the marine environment, including evolutionary processes (e.g., gene flow, natural selection) (Hellberg, ; Hillbish, ; Nayfa & Zenger, ; Nielsen et al., ; Slatkin, ), ecological processes (e.g., dispersal, recruitment) (Chust et al., ; Selkoe & Toonen, ; Weersing & Toonen, ) and environmental variables (e.g., habitat continuity, circulation) (Galindo et al., ; Selkoe, Henzler, & Gaines, ; Selkoe et al., ; White et al., ), there have been proportionately few studies that evaluate temporal trends in population genetic structure. This disparity is somewhat surprising, as conservation and management strategies that are based on knowledge of population genetic structure are inherently reliant on the assumption that such patterns are temporally consistent.…”

Population Genomics of Marine Zooplankton

“…Many species exhibit cosmopolitan distributions, with ranges spanning multiple ocean basins and broad latitudinal ranges (Peijnenburg and Goetze 2013). However, there are many exceptions to this oversimplified description, likely resulting from specific habitat requirements, restricted gene flow, or relict populations (Chust et al 2016). Further complicating analysis of species distributional patterns are rather characteristic high ratios of local-to-global species diversity; a net sample from oceanic waters may contain hundreds of species of copepods or ~10% of the global total (Kuriyama and Nishida 2006).…”