Panmixia in a fragmented and unstable environment: the hydrothermal shrimp Rimicaris exoculata disperses extensively along the Mid-Atlantic ridge

Teixeira, SaraSerrão, EsterARNAUD-HAOND, Sophie2014-05-262014-05-262012Teixeira, S.; Serrão, E.A.; Arnaud-Haond, S. Panmixia in a fragmented and unstable environment: The hydrothermal shrimp Rimicaris exoculata disperses extensively along the Mid-Atlantic ridge, PLoS ONE, 7, 6, SI-SI, 2012.1932-6203AUT: ESE00527;http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/4081Dispersal plays a fundamental role in the evolution and persistence of species, and especially for species inhabiting extreme, ephemeral and highly fragmented habitats as hydrothermal vents. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge endemic shrimp species Rimicaris exoculata was studied using microsatellite markers to infer connectivity along the 7100-Km range encompassing the sampled sites. Astonishingly, no genetic differentiation was found between individuals from the different geographic origins, supporting a scenario of widespread large-scale dispersal despite the habitat distance and fragmentation. We hypothesize that delayed metamorphosis associated to temperature differences or even active directed migration dependent on physical and/or chemical stimuli could explain these results and warrant further studies on adaptation and dispersal mechanisms.engPanmixia in a fragmented and unstable environment: the hydrothermal shrimp Rimicaris exoculata disperses extensively along the Mid-Atlantic ridgejournal article2014-05-21http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0038521