Small-scale genetic structure of Cerastoderma glaucum in a lagoonal environment: potential significance of habitat discontinuity and unstable population dynamics

Environmental heterogeneity in coastal lagoons is expected to facilitate local adaptation in response to different ecological conditions, causing significant genetic structuring within lagoon populations at a small scale and also differentiation between lagoons. However, these patterns and processes of genetic structuring are still poorly understood. The aims of our study were (1) to seek genetic structure at a small scale in Cerastoderma glaucum inside the Mar Menor coastal lagoon using a mitochondrial DNA marker (COI) that has previously detected genetic differentiation inside the lagoon in other species and (2) to evaluate the influence of extreme environmental conditions and habitat discontinuity on its genetic composition. The results indicate high levels of haplotype diversity and low values of nucleotide diversity. COI data provide evidence of significant population differentiation among some localities within the lagoon. Limited gene flow and unstable population dynamics (i.e. fluctuations in population size caused by local extinction and recolonization), probably due to the high environmental heterogeneity, could generate the small-scale genetic divergence detected between populations within the lagoon.

Data and Resources

Cite as

Vergara-Chen C. Gonzalez-Wangueemert M. Marcos C. y Perez-Ruzafa A. Small-scale genetic structure of Cerastoderma glaucum in a lagoonal environment: potential significance of habitat discontinuity and unstable population dynamics. Oxford University Press, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1093/mollus/eyt015

Clipboard Icon
Retrieved: 10 Nov 2025 14:04:17
RIS BibTeX

Metadata
Download
DCAT-AP/NTI-RISP

Basic information
Resource type Article
Date of creation 2024-11-05
Date of last revision 2024-11-15
Show changelog
Metadata identifier c1a901b0-d693-5b14-835d-d6ac5421e2d4
Metadata language Spanish
Themes (NTI-RISP)
High-value dataset category Earth observation and environment
ISO 19115 topic category biota
Keyword URIs
Bibliographic information
Name of the dataset creator Vergara-Chen, C., Gonzalez-Wangueemert, M., Marcos, C. y Perez-Ruzafa, A.
Name of the dataset editor Oxford University Press
Other identifier DOI: 10.1093/mollus/eyt015
Identifier of the dataset creator
Email of the dataset creator carlos.vergara@um.es
Website of the dataset creator
Provenance
Lineage statement
Metadata Standard
Version notes
Version