title: Testing the depth-differentiation hypothesis in a deepwater octocoral.
abstract: The depth-differentiation hypothesis proposes that the bathyal region is a source of genetic diversity and an area where there is a high rate of species formation. Genetic differentiation should thus occur over relatively small vertical distances, particularly along the upper continental slope (200-1000 m) where oceanography varies greatly over small differences in depth. To test whether genetic differentiation within deepwater octocorals is greater over vertical rather than geographical distances, Callogorgia delta was targeted. This species commonly occurs throughout the northern Gulf of Mexico at depths ranging from 400 to 900 m. We found significant genetic differentiation (FST = 0.042) across seven sites spanning 400 km of distance and 400 m of depth. A pattern of isolation by depth emerged, but geographical distance between sites may further limit gene flow. Water mass boundaries may serve to isolate populations across depth; however, adaptive divergence with depth is also a possible scenario. Microsatellite markers also revealed significant genetic differentiation (FST = 0.434) between C. delta and a closely related species, Callogorgia americana, demonstrating the utility of microsatellites in species delimitation of octocorals. Results provided support for the depth-differentiation hypothesis, strengthening the notion that factors covarying with depth serve as isolation mechanisms in deep-sea populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Temple University, 1900 North 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA aquattrini@usgs.gov.
authors.forename: Andrea M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Quattrini
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Pennsylvania State University, 208 Mueller Lab, University Park, PA 16801, USA.
authors.forename: Iliana B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Baums
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Shank
authors.affiliation: US Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV 25430, USA.
authors.forename: Cheryl L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Temple University, 1900 North 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA.
authors.forename: Erik E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Cordes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000235:genetics*; D051456:Gene Flow; D040961:Genetic Drift; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D013045:Species Specificity
keywords: Gulf of Mexico; adaptive divergence; connectivity; deep sea; octocoral; population genetics