Patterns of spatial genetic structuring in the endangered limpet Patella ferruginea: implications for the conservation of a Mediterranean endemic

Patella ferruginea Gmelin, 1791 is an endangered marine gastropod endemic to the Western Mediterranean. Its range is restricted to the Sardinian-Corsican region (SCR), North Africa, a few scattered sites in Southern Spain, and Sicily. Inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers and three different m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Genetica 2011-10, Vol.139 (10), p.1293-1308
Main Authors: Casu, Marco, Rivera-Ingraham, Georgina A, Cossu, Piero, Lai, Tiziana, Sanna, Daria, Dedola, Gian Luca, Sussarellu, Rossana, Sella, Gabriella, Cristo, Benedetto, Curini-Galletti, Marco, García-Gómez, José Carlos, Espinosa, Free
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal Genetics and Genomics
Animals
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Conservation of Natural Resources
cytochrome-c oxidase
DNA, Mitochondrial - genetics
Endangered Species
Evolutionary Biology
Gastropoda
Gastropoda - genetics
gene flow
genes
Genetic drift
Genetic structure
genetic variation
harvesting
Human Genetics
Life Sciences
Marine
Mediterranean Region
Microbial Genetics and Genomics
microsatellite repeats
Microsatellite Repeats - genetics
Mitochondrial DNA
Patella
Plant Genetics and Genomics
ribosomal RNA
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Summary:Patella ferruginea Gmelin, 1791 is an endangered marine gastropod endemic to the Western Mediterranean. Its range is restricted to the Sardinian-Corsican region (SCR), North Africa, a few scattered sites in Southern Spain, and Sicily. Inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers and three different mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) regions, Cytochrome c Oxidase subunit I, 12S (small-subunit ribosomal RNA gene) and 16S (large-subunit ribosomal RNA gene), were used to investigate the presence of genetic population structuring. The mtDNA sequences showed very low levels of genetic differentiation. Conversely, ISSRs showed the presence of two main genetic groups, corresponding to Spain, North Africa and Sicily and the SCR. The SCR was further split into two subgroups. The ISSR results suggest that, on a regional scale, the genetic structure of P. ferruginea is mainly determined by the restriction of gene flow by dispersal barriers. On a more local scale human harvesting may play a crucial role in population structuring by increasing the effect of genetic drift.
ISSN:0016-6707
1573-6857
DOI:10.1007/s10709-012-9631-3