Amphibious mudskipper populations are genetically connected along coastlines, but differentiated across water

Aim Specialized life histories can restrict the way that organisms move through landscape. Some fishes, such as mudskippers in family Gobiidae, are obligately amphibious and require a terrestrial phase which adults build burrows lay eggs mudflats. To evaluate whether this restricted, out-of-water might influence population structure one mudskipper, we tested populations separated by water more differentiated than those connected along coastline. Location South East China Seas. Taxon Periophthalmus modestus (family: subfamily: Oxudercinae) (Cantor 1842). Methods We collected 236 individuals from 10 locations around used targeted capture sequencing method, RADcap, to call SNPs 365 loci. multiple spatial genetics analyses coalescent models address contemporary historic biogeography of species. Results The observed levels genetic variation show P. across large distances continuous coastline small spans water. Restricted long-distance dispersal deep has resulted fragmentation populations. recovered no signal isolation distance, but instead, found differentiation associated with regional groupings expanses Main conclusions A limited significantly affects fish. restrictive history may be key factor present-day distribution modestus. Interactions between organismal geography critical for explaining