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Ecology of cryptic invasions: latitudinal segregation among Watersipora (Bryozoa) species
Citation:
Mackie, J., J. Darling, AND J. Geller. Ecology of cryptic invasions: latitudinal segregation among Watersipora (Bryozoa) species. NATURE. Macmillan Publishers Ltd., London, Uk, 2(871):1-13, (2012).
Impact/Purpose:
To explore environmental parameters explaining distribution of genetic diversity in a widespread invasive marine bryozoan
Description:
Watersipora is an invasive genus of bryozoans, easily dispersed by fouled vessels. We examined Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I haplotypes from introduced populations on the US Pacific coastline to investigate geographic segregation of species and/or haplotypes. In California, the W. subtorquata group fell into three major sub-groups: W. subtorquata clades A and B, andW. ‘‘new sp.’’. W. subtorquata clades A and B were common in southern California south of Point Conception, a recognized biogeographic boundary, whereas further north,W. subtorquata clade A andW. n. sp. were frequent. The southern California region also had colonies of a morphologically distinct species,W. arcuata, also found in southern Australia and Hawaii; COI variation indicates a common ancestral source(s) in these introductions. The distribution of Watersipora-complex lineages on different coastlines is shown to be temperature correlated. Accordingly,pre-exisitng temperature-based adaptations may play a key role in determining invasion patterns.
