Lack of COI variation for Clavelina oblonga (Tunicata, Ascidiacea) in Brazil: Evidence for its human-mediated transportation?

Autor(es)

da Rocha, Rosana Moreira ^[1] ; Kremer, Laura Pioli ^[2] ; Fehlauer-Ale, Karin Hoch ^[3]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Fed Parana, Dept Zool, Curitiba, PR - Brazil

^[2] Inst Fed Educ Santa Catarina, BR-88301360 Itajai, SC - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Lab Sistemat & Evolucao Bryozoa, Ctr Biol Marinha, BR-11600000 Sao Sebastiao, SP - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: AQUATIC INVASIONS; v. 7, n. 3, p. 419-424, SEP 2012.
• Citações Web of Science: 10

Resumo

Recent studies indicate that ascidians are efficiently dispersed by human transport. We have chosen the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) to address whether Clavelina oblonga is an introduced species in the Brazilian coast. Colonies of C. oblonga were sampled in different localities along Atlantic coasts of USA, Panama, and Brazil. The sequencing of 92 colonies resulted in three haplotypes for the species, two unique to Florida and the other shared by exemplars collected in Brazil and Panama; the latter haplotype is identical to the published sequence of Azores. Our evidence, including the absence of C. oblonga in the country's northern tropical waters, its association with artificial habitats and lack of COI variation suggest that the species has been introduced in the southeastern and southern Brazilian coasts. Previous records (85 years old) suggest that it could be a relatively long-term introduction. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 09/08941-3 - Caracterização molecular de Bugula spp. (Bryozoa, Cheilostomata, Bugulidae): implicações taxonômicas, filogenéticas e de bioinvasão
• Beneficiário: Alvaro Esteves Migotto
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular