Population structure of the mussel “ Bathymodiolus” childressi from Gulf of Mexico hydrocarbon seeps

• Published in: Deep-sea research. Part I, Oceanographic research papers Oceanographic research papers, 2006-06, Vol.53 (6), p.1061-1072
• Main Authors: Carney, Susan L., Formica, Marisa I., Divatia, Himani, Nelson, Kimberlyn, Fisher, Charles R., Schaeffer, Stephen W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal populations; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Bathymodiolus; Bathymodiolus childressi; Biogeography; Biological and medical sciences; Dispersal; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Gulf of Mexico; Hydrocarbon leakage & seepage; Hydrocarbon seeps; Invertebrata; Marine; Marine biology; Oceanography; Population genetics; Population genetics, reproduction patterns; Sea water ecosystems; Shellfish; Synecology
• ISSN: 0967-0637; 1879-0119
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dsr.2006.03.002

Hydrocarbon and brine seeps in the deep regions of the northern and western Gulf of Mexico often support populations of the bathymodiolin mussel, “ Bathymodiolus” childressi. In this study, we use two mitochondrial and six nuclear DNA markers to investigate relationships within the metapopulation of “ B.” childressi in the Gulf of Mexico from Mississippi Canyon to Alaminos Canyon over a range of 527–2222 m in depth and approximately 550 km in distance. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and size polymorphism analysis of the markers suggest that populations are not genetically differentiated. F ST values were not significantly different from zero. The presence of a panmictic population of “ B.” childressi over such a broad range of depth suggests that this species may be quite different from most members of the Gulf of Mexico seep chemosynthetic communities.