title: Evolutionary divergence of geographic subspecies within the scalloped spiny lobster Panulirus homarus (Linnaeus 1758).
abstract: Panulirus homarus is an economically important spiny lobster that is widespread through the Indo-West Pacific Region, but has an uncertain taxonomic status, with three or four geographic subspecies having been described. This study used mitochondrial (16S, COI and control region) and nuclear (18S, ITS-1) DNA sequences to examine specimens of all putative subspecies and forms from throughout their range, in order to determine their genetic validity, and understand the evolutionary history of this species. Despite the range of diversity present in the loci examined, the results were consistent across genes. P. h. rubellus from the SW Indian Ocean comprised the most divergent lineage that was reciprocally monophyletic with respect to all other P. homarus (approx. 9% divergence in COI), and has likely evolved reproductive barriers. The putative P. h. "Brown" subspecies from the Marquesas Is in the central Pacific also comprised a somewhat divergent monophyletic lineage (approx. 3% in COI), but may simply be an allopatric population. The widespread P. h. homarus was not diverged at all from the described P. h. megasculpta from the NW Indian Ocean. The degree of evolutionary divergence of populations at the extremes distribution of the species is somewhat surprising, given the long pelagic larval stage, but suggests that allopatric speciation has been an important driver in the evolution of the genus.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Shane D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Lavery
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Fisheries, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farhadi
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Fisheries, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Farahmand
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Biology and Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 202, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Tin-Yam
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: IFRO- Chabahar Branch, Chabahr, Iran.
authors.forename: Ashkan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azhdehakoshpour
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Vibhavari
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Thakur
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Andrew G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Jeffs
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics; D056426:Genetic Loci; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005843:Geography; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D033521:Palinuridae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV