Shinkaia crosnieri raw sequence reads
Knowledge on population connectivity of representative vent- and seep-endemic macrofauna can help delimit biogeographic provinces and provide informed guidelines for deep-sea conservation under the increasing threats of human disturbances. Nevertheless, related studies are still scarce, impeding the effective conservation of deep-sea biodiversity in the Anthropocene. To fill such knowledge gaps, we conducted a population connectivity study on the galatheoid squat lobster Shinkaia crosnieri widely distributed in deep-sea vent and seep ecosystems in the Northwest Pacific. With an interdisciplinary methodology involving genomic tools and oceanographic approaches, our study aimed to (1) enhance our understanding of the genetic divergence and migration patterns of S. crosnieri, (2) compare the biogeographic subdivisions and source-sink dynamics of S. crosnieri with those of two co-occurring and representative vent- and seep-endemic species published previously, (3) illustrate the vent fields and seep areas that warrant prioritized conservation efforts in the Northwest Pacific, and (4) make a contribution to future decision-making on the effective designation of deep-sea reserves and the informed establishment of marine protected areas in the global ocean.