Phylogeography of the North Atlantic Marine Snail Littorina saxatilis
Author Information
Author(s): Marina Panova, April M. H. Blakeslee, A. Whitman Miller, Tuuli Mäkinen, Gregory M. Ruiz, Kerstin Johannesson, Carl André
Primary Institution: University of Gothenburg
Hypothesis
Did Littorina saxatilis survive the last glacial maximum in refugia in the Northwest Atlantic or did it go extinct and later recolonize from Europe?
Conclusion
Littorina saxatilis likely survived the last glacial maximum in the Northwest Atlantic and has a complex phylogeographic structure with multiple refugia.
Supporting Evidence
- Littorina saxatilis has high genetic diversity across its range.
- The study identified multiple refugial populations in the Northwest Atlantic.
- Phylogenetic analyses revealed distinct clades with geographic concordance.
- Significant genetic differentiation was observed among populations.
- Evidence suggests survival during the last glacial maximum in refugia.
Takeaway
This study looks at a type of snail and how it survived during the last ice age, showing that it lived in safe places and later spread out.
Methodology
The study used mitochondrial DNA sequencing to analyze genetic variation among 778 individuals from various populations.
Potential Biases
Potential biases in sampling locations and methods could affect the results.
Limitations
The study may not account for all potential environmental factors affecting genetic diversity.
Participant Demographics
The study included samples from various geographic regions across the North Atlantic and Mediterranean.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% HPD intervals provided for divergence time estimates.
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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