Untangling the origin of the newcomer Phorcus sauciatus (Mollusca: Gastropoda) in a remote Atlantic archipelago

Dispersal ability, habitat characteristics, and sea-surface circulation shape population structure of Cingula trifasciata (Gastropoda: Rissoidae) in the remote Azores Archipelago

“…; (3) what are the drivers and factors influencing dispersal in the Azores? Similar questions have been posed in previous studies that intended to clarify patterns and processes affecting marine gastropods in the Azores [ 24 , 48 ].…”

“…These deviations from the geographical pattern indicate a recent colonization from the Central group or the recent exchange of individuals due to unusual patterns of circulation between these island groups. Therefore, even though the Azorean islands are relatively isolated for long periods of times, occasional dispersal events of rafting and extreme weather might allow the exchange of individuals among distant populations [ 2 , 48 , 122 ].…”

“…These studies show the complexity of superficial (0–5 m) connectivity in the Azores area and among island groups, supporting our inferences regarding gene flow and exchange of individuals among populations: the western islands are the most isolated with lower changes of exchange with the remaining; high connectivity levels are expected within the Central Group; the Eastern Group is isolated to some extent but with some degree of connectivity with the Central Group [ 130 , 131 ]. While the direction and circulation of the transport pathways within and among island groups await further studies, one cannot ignore the potential role of temporary disruptions of these circulation patterns in the episodic long-distance transports of individuals [ 48 ], often due to extreme weather events lashing the Azores. Future long-term studies regarding oceanographic circulation and extreme events in the NE Atlantic might provide the necessary data to better explain the genetic structuring of C. trifasciata and other np marine invertebrates in the Azores Archipelago.…”

Morphospecies and molecular diversity of ‘lace corals’: the genus Reteporella (Bryozoa: Cheilostomatida) in the central North Atlantic Azores Archipelago

“…Among the many dispersal strategies of organisms with non-planktotrophic larvae (for a review see [38]), which include all brooding bryozoans, rafting is the most relevant for epibenthic shallow-water taxa in temperate Atlantic regions [39][40][41]. Adding to this difficult quest, the Azores Archipelago sits in a particular geographic and oceanographic setting in the middle of the North Atlantic, with prevailing eastwards-flowing sea-surface currents (see [29] for details). It is remarkable that, despite the Gulf Stream and similarly to other marine and terrestrial taxa, non-planktotrophic Azorean bryozoans have their closest relatives in the NE Atlantic or the Mediterranean Sea, providing another example of the so-called "Azorean Biogeographical Paradox" [23][24][25].…”

“…Reteporella populations in distant islands that exceed the range that larvae can travel in the water column prior to successful settlement and metamorphosis, may thus be subject to prolonged evolution in isolation. Rare chance events such as strong storms or hurricanes [80,81], or the formation of eddies [77,79], may enhance sea-surface current speed or even induce a change in current direction, and thus connect separated populations or bring together distinct species [29].…”