Mitochondrial DNA variability of the pipefish Syngnathus abaster

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Population Genetics
• Evolutionary Biology

Background:

• The pipefish Syngnathus abaster is found in brackish waters of the western Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas.
• Understanding its genetic structure is crucial for conservation and evolutionary studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the genetic structuring of Syngnathus abaster populations.
• To assess genetic variability and infer evolutionary history.
• To evaluate the monophyly of the S. abaster taxon.

Main Methods:

• Mitochondrial DNA analysis of control region and three other genomic regions.
• Bayesian inference (BI), maximum likelihood (ML), and network analyses were employed.
• 109 specimens were collected from brackish-water biotopes.

Main Results:

• High genetic structuring was observed, with three distinct clusters of S. abaster populations.
• The monophyly of S. abaster was not supported by BI and ML analyses.
• Very high inter-population genetic variability was found, with no shared haplotypes among sites.

Conclusions:

• The findings suggest a species complex within S. abaster, potentially differentiating since the Pleistocene.
• Fragmented habitats likely drove high genetic divergence.
• A linear stepping-stone model is the most probable colonization pattern, though further research is needed.