title: Habitat Discontinuities Separate Genetically Divergent Populations of a Rocky Shore Marine Fish.
abstract: Habitat fragmentation has been suggested to be responsible for major genetic differentiations in a range of marine organisms. In this study, we combined genetic data and environmental information to unravel the relative role of geography and habitat heterogeneity on patterns of genetic population structure of corkwing wrasse (Symphodus melops), a rocky shore species at the northern limit of its distribution range in Scandinavia. Our results revealed a major genetic break separating populations inhabiting the western and southern coasts of Norway. This genetic break coincides with the longest stretch of sand in the whole study area, suggesting habitat fragmentation as a major driver of genetic differentiation of this obligate rocky shore benthic fish in Scandinavia. The complex fjords systems extending along the western coast of Norway appeared responsible for further regional genetic structuring. Our findings indicate that habitat discontinuities may lead to significant genetic fragmentation over short geographical distances, even for marine species with a pelagic larval phase, as for this rocky shore fish.
authors.affiliation: Center for Coastal Research, University of Agder, N-4604 Kristiansand, Norway.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2631-2331
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Blanco Gonzalez
authors.affiliation: Center for Coastal Research, University of Agder, N-4604 Kristiansand, Norway.|Institute of Marine Research (IMR), Flødevigen, N-4817 His, Norway.|Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066 Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Halvor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Knutsen
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066 Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Per Erik
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Jorde
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D017753:Ecosystem; D005399:Fishes / Q000235:genetics*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D056426:Genetic Loci; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D009664:Norway; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004247:DNA