2026-04-17T01:27:15Zhttps://recercat.cat/oai/request

oai:recercat.cat:2445/1860632025-12-05T09:45:01Zcom_2072_1057col_2072_478778col_2072_478917

00925njm 22002777a 4500 dc Pérez Portela, Rocío author Garcia-Cisneros, Alex author Campos-Canet, Marta author Palacín Cabañas, Cruz author 2022-05-27T12:42:28Z 2022-05-27T12:42:28Z 2021-08-19 2022-05-27T12:42:29Z We here analysed the populations' genetic structure of Coscinasterias tenuispina, an AtlanticMediterranean fssiparous starfsh, focusing on the western Mediterranean, to investigate: the distribution and prevalence of genetic variants, the relative importance of asexual reproduction, connectivity across the Atlantic-Mediterranean transition, and the potential recent colonisation of the Mediterranean Sea. Individuals from 11 Atlantic-Mediterranean populations of a previous study added to 172 new samples from fve new W Mediterranean sites. Individuals were genotyped at 12 microsatellite loci and their gonads histologically analysed for sex determination. Additionally, four populations were genotyped at two-time points. Results demonstrated genetic homogeneity and low clonal richness within the W Mediterranean, due to the dominance of a superclone, but large genetic divergence with adjacent areas. The lack of new genotypes recruitment over time, and the absence of females, confrmed that W Mediterranean populations were exclusively maintained by fssion and reinforced the idea of its recent colonization. The existence of diferent environmental conditions among basins and/or density-depend processes could explain this lack of recruitment from distant areas. The positive correlation between clonal richness and heterozygote excess suggests that most genetic diversity is retained within individuals in the form of heterozygosity in clonal populations, which might increase their resilience. Mediterrània occidental Estrelles de mar Reproducció asexual Genètica de poblacions Western Mediterranean Starfishes Asexual reproduction Population Genetics Genetic homogeneity, lack of larvae recruitment, and clonality in absence of females across western Mediterranean populations of the starfish Coscinasterias tenuispina.