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Local adaptation in marine invertebrates
1Department of Evolution and Ecology and Bodega Marine Laboratory, University of California, Davis, Bodega Bay, California 94923, USA. edsanford@ucdavis.edu
Annual Review of Marine Science
|February 19, 2011
Summary
Marine invertebrates show local adaptation despite high dispersal potential, challenging previous assumptions. This adaptive divergence occurs across various spatial scales, impacting marine ecosystems.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Historically, local adaptation in marine environments was considered rare, limited to species with low dispersal.
- Recent studies reveal adaptive differentiation in many marine invertebrates due to environmental gradients.
- A significant number of these adapted species possess planktonic larval stages, enabling dispersal.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and spatial scales of local adaptation in marine invertebrates.
- To understand the role of dispersal potential in adaptive divergence.
- To highlight the implications of adaptive genetic differentiation for marine ecology and conservation.
Main Methods:
- Experimental studies examining adaptive differentiation in marine invertebrates.
- Analysis of genetic divergence across different spatial scales.
- Assessment of environmental factors driving local adaptation.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests local adaptation is common in marine invertebrates, even those with high dispersal.
- Adaptive divergence is observed across fine-grained spatial scales (meters to kilometers).
- Selection pressures from abiotic and biotic conditions drive this differentiation.
Conclusions:
- Local adaptation is a widespread phenomenon in marine invertebrates, not restricted by dispersal.
- Understanding adaptive divergence is crucial for predicting community ecology shifts.
- This research informs climate change adaptation strategies and marine resource management.
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