Journal
MARINE BIOLOGY
Volume 161, Issue 1, Pages 173-185Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s00227-013-2327-0
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Funding
- University of Northern Iowa (UNI) Department of Biology Undergraduate Research Program
- UNI Summer Undergraduate Research Program
- UNI College of Natural Sciences
- UNI Graduate College
- US Fish and Wildlife Service
- Fulbright Foundation
- University of Iowa Center for Global Regional Environmental Research
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico [300662/2009-2, 450320/2010-3]
- Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo [2009/50799-0]
- Coordenadoria de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Ensino Superior
- Centro de Biologia Marinha/USP at Sao Sebastiao, SP
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Marine species tend to exhibit relatively less population structuring than terrestrial species owing to fewer barriers to gene flow and increased connectivity resulting from greater dispersal abilities. Thus, in many cases, life history plays a more important role in phylogeography of marine taxa than do oceanographic features. Littoral species are of particular phylogeographic interest because they possess life histories that have both marine and terrestrial characteristics. This study evaluates the synergistic impact of divergent ocean currents and a high larval dispersal potential on the phylogeography of the fiddler crab, Uca maracoani, distributed along the coast of Brazil. Patterns of genetic variation were assessed with sequence data for a portion of the mitochondrial COI gene and AFLPs. Geometric morphometric techniques were used to evaluate morphological variation. Results revealed a lack of discernible genetic subdivision. However, geometric morphometrics showed statistically significant morphological differentiation. The absence of a clear phylogeographic pattern appears to be determined primarily by life history characteristics permitting a high level of connectivity. One, or a combination of several factors, may explain the incongruity between genetic and morphologic signatures, including phenotypic plasticity, incomplete lineage sorting, or recent and ongoing genetic divergence.
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