The present-day genetic structure of a species reflects both historical demography and patterns of contemporary gene flow among populations. To precisely understand how these factors shape current population structure of the northwestern (NW) Pacific marine gastropod, Thais clavigera, we determined the partial nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial COI gene for 602 individuals sampled from 29 localities spanning almost the whole distribution of T. clavigera in the NW Pacific Ocean (~3,700 km). Results from population genetic and demographic analyses (AMOVA, ΦST-statistics, haplotype networks, Tajima’s D, Fu’s FS, mismatch distribution, and Bayesian skyline plots) revealed a lack of genealogical branches or geographical clusters, and a high level of genetic (haplotype) diversity within each of studied population. Nevertheless, low but significant genetic structuring was detected among some geographical populations separated by the Changjiang River, suggesting the presence of geographical barriers to larval dispersal around this region. Several lines of evidence including significant negative Tajima’s D and Fu’s FS statistics values, the unimodally shaped mismatch distribution, and Bayesian skyline plots suggest a population expansion at marine isotope stage 11 (MIS 11; 400 ka), the longest and warmest interglacial interval during the Pleistocene epoch. The lack of genetic structure among the great majority of the NW Pacific T. clavigera populations may be attributable to high gene flow by current-driven long-distance dispersal of prolonged planktonic larval phase of this species.
Division of EcoScience, Ewha Womans University, 52 Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120–750, Republic of Korea;The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China;Program in Cell Biology and Genetics and Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 361–763, Republic of Korea;The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China;The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China;The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China;Seto Marine Biological Laboratory, Kyoto University, 459 Nishimuro, Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan;The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China;Korea Polar Research Institute, 26 Songdomirae-ro Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, 406–840, Republic of Korea;School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 500–757, Republic of Korea;Department of Biological Science, College of Science and Engineering, Sangji University, Wonju, 220–702, Republic of Korea;Division of EcoScience, Ewha Womans University, 52 Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120–750, Republic of Korea
Recommended Citation:
Xiang Guo,Dan Zhao,Daewui Jung,et al. Phylogeography of the Rock Shell Thais clavigera (Mollusca): Evidence for Long-Distance Dispersal in the Northwestern Pacific[J]. PLOS ONE,2015-01-01,10(7)