Mitochondrial diversity in Gonionemus (Trachylina:Hydrozoa) and its implications for understanding the origins of clinging jellyfish in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean
نویسندگان
چکیده
Determining whether a population is introduced or native to a region can be challenging due to inadequate taxonomy, the presence of cryptic lineages, and poor historical documentation. For taxa with resting stages that bloom episodically, determining origin can be especially challenging as an environmentally-triggered abrupt appearance of the taxa may be confused with an anthropogenic introduction. Here, we assess diversity in mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I sequences obtained from multiple Atlantic and Pacific locations, and discuss the implications of our findings for understanding the origin of clinging jellyfish Gonionemus in the Northwest Atlantic. Clinging jellyfish are known for clinging to seagrasses and seaweeds, and have complex life cycles that include resting stages. They are especially notorious as some, although not all, populations are associated with severe sting reactions. The worldwide distribution of Gonionemus has been aptly called a "zoogeographic puzzle" and our results refine rather than resolve the puzzle. We find a relatively deep divergence that may indicate cryptic speciation between Gonionemus from the Northeast Pacific and Northwest Pacific/Northwest Atlantic. Within the Northwest Pacific/Northwest Atlantic clade, we find haplotypes unique to each region. We also find one haplotype that is shared between highly toxic Vladivostok-area populations and some Northwest Atlantic populations. Our results are consistent with multiple scenarios that involve both native and anthropogenic processes. We evaluate each scenario and discuss critical directions for future research, including improving the resolution of population genetic structure, identifying possible lineage admixture, and better characterizing and quantifying the toxicity phenotype.
منابع مشابه
Species–specific crab predation on the hydrozoan clinging jellyfish Gonionemus sp. (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa), subsequent crab mortality, and possible ecological consequences
Here we report a unique trophic interaction between the cryptogenic and sometimes highly toxic hydrozoan clinging jellyfish Gonionemus sp. and the spider crab Libinia dubia. We assessed species-specific predation on the Gonionemus medusae by crabs found in eelgrass meadows in Massachusetts, USA. The native spider crab species L. dubia consumed Gonionemus medusae, often enthusiastically, but the...
متن کاملSpecies–specific crab predation on the hydrozoan clinging jellyfish Gonionemus cf. murbachii Mayer, 1901 (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa), subsequent crab mortality, and possible ecological consequences
متن کامل
Contributions of Atlantic Ocean to June-August Rainfall over Uganda and Western Kenya
This study investigates the contributions of Atlantic Ocean to June-August rainfall over Uganda and western Kenya (KU). The study has utilized the datasets including precipitation from the Global Precipitation Climatology Centre, North Atlantic Oscillation Index (NAOI), South Atlantic Ocean Dipole Index (SAODI), ERA-interim reanalysis, and the Atlantic Ocean Sea Surface Temperature (SST). Singu...
متن کاملHierarchical analyses of genetic variation of samples from breeding and feeding grounds confirm the genetic partitioning of northwest Atlantic and South Atlantic populations of swordfish (Xiphias gladius L.)
In species with high migratory potential, the genetic signal revealing population differentiation is often obscured by population admixture. To our knowledge, the explicit comparison of genetic samples from known spawning and feeding areas has not been conducted for any highly migratory pelagic fish species. This study examines the geographic heterogeneity of swordfish mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)...
متن کاملبررسی تنوع ژنتیکی در میان شترهای دو کوهانه استان اردبیل
The Bactrian camel of Ardebil province, northwestern of Iran, is an adapted genetic resource and a great national wealth; however its population has dramatically decreased in numbers. Therefore, we aim to investigate the mitochondrial genetic diversity within this population. In 37 individuals, a 518-bp region of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) that spanned a portion of the cytochrome b gene, the...
متن کامل