Phylogenetic and phylogeographic inferences based on two DNA markers reveal geographic structure of the orangeclaw hermit crab Calcinus tibicen (Anomura: Diogenidae) in the western Atlantic

Author(s)

Mandai, Silvia Sayuri ^[1] ; Buranelli, Raquel Correa ^[1] ; Schubart, Christoph D. ^[2] ; Mantelatto, Fernando L. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Philosophy Sci & Letters Ribeirao Preto FFCLR, Dept Biol, Lab Bioecol & Systemat Crustaceans LBSC, Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Regensburg, Zool & Evolut Biol, Regensburg - Germany

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: MARINE BIOLOGY RESEARCH; v. 14, n. 6, p. 565-580, 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

The hermit crab Calcinus tibicen has an extensive distribution along the coasts of the western Atlantic Ocean, from the USA to southern Brazil. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis of the presence of phylogeographic structure of C. tibicen throughout its distribution, evaluating the genetic and morphological variabilities of the species. The molecular data, genetic diversity and demographic history were inferred from 16 different localities for the mitochondrial genes cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) (75 specimens) and 16S rRNA (20). The morphological information was based on 99 individuals from the same 16 localities. Results were obtained by the construction of haplotype networks and a phylogenetic tree, an Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA), Tajima's D and Fu's Fs tests, pairwise mismatch distributions under the sudden expansion model, and by estimating divergence times. The haplotype networks show the existence of two genetically well-defined groups that do not share haplotypes. The phylogenetic tree and the matrix of genetic distances suggest lack of gene between North and South Atlantic groups, also corroborated by AMOVA for the COI gene. The genetic distance can be attributed to at least two ecological factors: the existence of a physiological barrier caused by the Amazon River freshwater plume, and the effect of the bifurcation of the westerly flowing South Atlantic oceanic currents creating a gap along the Brazilian coastline. Demographic history analyses suggest that C. tibicen experienced population expansion, probably after the Amazon River changed its direction. Despite the molecular evidence for the existence of a phylogeographic structure, no morphological pattern for each genetic group was observed. Therefore, based on the described molecular differences and the ecological and historical factors suggested, the question arises whether a cryptic species should be recognized for some of the populations of C. tibicen. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/50188-8 - Decapod crustaceans: multi-disciplinary characterization of the sea biodiversity of the State of São Paulo (taxonomy, spermiotaxonomy, molecular biology and population dynamics)
• Grantee: Fernando Luis Medina Mantelatto
• Support type: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/10639-1 - Population variability among the hermit crab Calcinus tibicen populations from Brazil and the North Atlantic evaluated through morphological and molecular tools
• Grantee: Silvia Sayuri Mandai
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 09/54931-0 - Improvement and management of biological specimen collections at the Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo
• Grantee: Carlos Alberto Garofalo
• Support type: Research Infrastructure Program - Biological specimen collections