First insights into the phylogeography and demographic history of the common hermit crab Pagurus bernhardus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Decapoda: Anomura: Paguridae) across the Eastern Atlantic and North Sea

The common hermit crab Pagurus bernhardus (Linnaeus, 1758) is an abundant and ecologically important benthic crustacean in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean. While this species has been intensively studied in terms of its ecology, physiology, behavior, and larval development, knowledge about its popul...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of crustacean biology 2020-07, Vol.40 (4), p.435-449
Main Authors: Rossel, Sven, Deli, Temim, Raupach, Michael J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquatic crustaceans
Bayesian analysis
Benthos
Contraction
Crabs
Crustaceans
Demographics
Developmental stages
Genetic markers
Genetic structure
Genetic variability
Larval development
Larval stage
Marine crustaceans
Mitochondria
Pagurus bernhardus
Population structure
Probability theory
Refugia
Shellfish
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Summary:The common hermit crab Pagurus bernhardus (Linnaeus, 1758) is an abundant and ecologically important benthic crustacean in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean. While this species has been intensively studied in terms of its ecology, physiology, behavior, and larval development, knowledge about its population structure and demographic history is still lacking. We examined, for the first time, the genetic variability of P. bernhardus by analyzing two mitochondrial gene fragments (CO1 and 16S) from more than 150 specimens collected from various locations from the Iberian Peninsula to Norway. Our results provide evidence for a significant genetic structure according to the sampled regions for both genetic markers. Furthermore, a comprehensive demographic history reconstruction, mainly based on neutrality tests and a Bayesian Skyline Plot (CO1), revealed a recent demographic expansion of P. bernhardus that preceded the Last Glacial Maximum. Such pattern of retrieved demographic trend could have been likely a successive process to historical contraction of the species into potential climate refugia within the surveyed geographic spectrum.
ISSN:0278-0372
1937-240X
DOI:10.1093/jcbiol/ruaa026