title: Species are hypotheses: avoid connectivity assessments based on pillars of sand.
abstract: Connectivity among populations determines the dynamics and evolution of populations, and its assessment is essential in ecology in general and in conservation biology in particular. The robust basis of any ecological study is the accurate delimitation of evolutionary units, such as populations, metapopulations and species. Yet a disconnect still persists between the work of taxonomists describing species as working hypotheses and the use of species delimitation by molecular ecologists interested in describing patterns of gene flow. This problem is particularly acute in the marine environment where the inventory of biodiversity is relatively delayed, while for the past two decades, molecular studies have shown a high prevalence of cryptic species. In this study, we illustrate, based on marine case studies, how the failure to recognize boundaries of evolutionary-relevant unit leads to heavily biased estimates of connectivity. We review the conceptual framework within which species delimitation can be formalized as falsifiable hypotheses and show how connectivity studies can feed integrative taxonomic work and vice versa. Finally, we suggest strategies for spatial, temporal and phylogenetic sampling to reduce the probability of inadequately delimiting evolutionary units when engaging in connectivity studies.
authors.affiliation: Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS - Université de La Rochelle, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17042, La Rochelle, France.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pante
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Puillandre
authors.forename: Amélia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Viricel
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arnaud-Haond
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aurelle
authors.forename: Magalie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castelin
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chenuil
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Destombe
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Forcioli
authors.forename: Myriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valero
authors.forename: Frédérique
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Viard
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Samadi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000145:classification*; D044822:Biodiversity; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002965:Classification / Q000379:methods; D004463:Ecology / Q000379:methods*; D010802:Phylogeny; D013045:Species Specificity
keywords: connectivity; marine organisms; molecular systematics; taxonomy