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Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open
Journal article
Cryptic diversity in southern African kelp
Scientific reports, Vol.14, 11071
14/05/2024
PMID: 38745036
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Source: InCites
Abstract
The southern coast of Africa is one of the few places in the world where water temperatures are predicted to cool in the future. This endemism-rich coastline is home to two sister species of kelps of the genus Ecklonia maxima and Ecklonia radiata, each associated with specific thermal niches, and occuring primarily on opposite sides of the southern tip of Africa. Historical distribution records indicate that E. maxima has recently shifted its distribution ~ 70 km eastward, to sites where only E. radiata was previously reported. The contact of sister species with contrasting thermal affinities and the occurrence of mixed morphologies raised the hypothesis that hybridization might be occurring in this contact zone. Here we describe the genetic structure of the genus Ecklonia along the southern coast of Africa and investigate potential hybridization and cryptic diversity using a combination of nuclear microsatellites and mitochondrial markers. We found that both species have geographically discrete genetic clusters, consistent with expected phylogeographic breaks along this coastline. In addition, depth-isolated populations were found to harbor unique genetic diversity, including a third Ecklonia lineage. Mito-nuclear discordance and high genetic divergence in the contact zones suggest multiple hybridization events between Ecklonia species. Discordance between morphological and molecular identification suggests the potential influence of abiotic factors leading to convergent phenotypes in the contact zones. Our results highlight an example of cryptic diversity and hybridization driven by contact between two closely related keystone species with contrasting thermal affinities.
Details
- Title
- Cryptic diversity in southern African kelp
- Creators
- Pedro Madeira - University of AlgarveMaggie M Reddy - University of Cape TownJorge Assis - University of AlgarveJohn J Bolton - University of Cape TownMark D Rothman - University of Cape TownRobert J Anderson - University of Cape TownLineekela Kandjengo - University of NamibiaAnja Kreiner - National Marine Information and Research Centre, Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Swakopmund, NamibiaMelinda A Coleman - Southern Cross UniversityThomas Wernberg - The University of Western AustraliaOlivier De Clerck - Ghent UniversityFrederik Leliaert - Meise Botanic GardenSalomão Bandeira - Eduardo Mondlane UniversityAbdul M Ada - Louisiana State UniversityJoão Neiva - University of AlgarveGareth A Pearson - University of AlgarveEster A Serrão - University of Algarve
- Publication Details
- Scientific reports, Vol.14, 11071
- Publisher
- Nature Publishing Group
- Grant note
- FCT: DivRestore/0013/2020 / EU-Biodeversa BiodivRestore-253 DP200100201 / Australian Research Council SFRH/BD/140464/2018 / Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia AGA-KHAN/540316524/2019 / Aga Khan Foundation UIDB/04326/2020 / Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia 111719 / South African National Research Foundation PTDC/BIA-CBI/6515/2020 / Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia,Portugal
- Identifiers
- 991013190513302368
- Copyright
- © The Author(s) 2024. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article