After continents divide: comparative phylogeography of reef fishes from the R ed S ea and I ndian O cean
Abstract
Aim: The R ed S ea is a biodiversity hotspot characterized by a unique marine fauna and high endemism. This sea began forming c. 24 million years ago with the separation of the A frican and A rabian plates, and has been characterized by periods of desiccation, hypersalinity and intermittent connection to the I ndian O cean. We aim to evaluate the impact of these events on the genetic architecture of the R ed S ea reef fish fauna. Location: Red S ea and W estern I ndian O cean. Methods: We surveyed seven reef fish species from the R ed S ea and adjacent I ndian O cean using mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and cytochrome b sequences. To assess genetic variation and evolutionary connectivity within and between these regions, we estimated haplotype diversity (h) and nucleotide diversity (π), reconstructed phylogenetic relationships among haplotypes, and estimated gene flow and time of population separation using B ayesian coalescent‐based methodology. Results: Our analyses revealed a range of scenarios from shallow population structure to diagnostic differences that indicate evolutionary partitions and possible cryptic species. Conventional molecular clocks and coalescence analyses indicated time‐frames for divergence between these bodies of water ranging from 830,000 years to contemporary exchange or recent range expansion. Colonization routes were bidirectional, with some species moving from the I ndian O cean to the R ed S ea compared with expansion out of the R ed S ea for other species. Main conclusions: We conclude that: (1) at least some R ed S ea reef fauna survived multiple salinity crises; (2) endemism is higher in the R ed S ea than previously reported; and (3) the R ed S ea is an evolutionary incubator, occasionally contributing species to the adjacent I ndian O cean. The latter two conclusions – elevated endemism and species export – indicate a need for enhanced conservation priorities for the R ed S ea.
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Strong isolation of Red Sea populations from the Western Indian Ocean has previously been reported for corals, fishes, arthropods, echinoderms, molluscs and sponges, although some studies found no barriers for some fish species.
“Strong isolation of Red Sea populations from the WIO has been previously reported for corals (Pinzón et al. 2013), fishes (discussed, e.g., in Froukh and Kochzius 2008;DiBattista et al. 2013DiBattista et al. , 2016)), arthropods (e.g., Iacchei et al. 2016), echinoderms (Vogler et al. 2008), molluscs (e.g., Hui et al. 2016) and sponges (Wörheide et al. 2008), although some studies found no”
From Population genetics of the brooding coral Seriatopora hystrix reveals patterns of strong genetic differentiation in the Western Indian Ocean (2021) · cites this paper as DiBattista et al. 2013
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References 89 · Cited by 125
- Authors
- DiBattista, J. D., Berumen, M. L., Gaither, M. R., Rocha, L. A., Eble, J. A., Choat, J. H., Craig, M. T., Skillings, D. J., & Bowen, B. W.
- Affiliations
- Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology (US)
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (US)
- California Academy of Sciences (US)
- University of West Florida (US)
- James Cook University (AU)
- University of San Diego (US)
- Corresponding author
- DiBattista, Joseph D.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Journal of Biogeography
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2013-01-07
- Volume
- 40
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1170-1181
- ISSN
- 0305-0270 (ISSN-L)
- 1365-2699
- OpenAlex
- W2064872064
- Cited by
- 125
- References
- 89
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 6
- FWCI
- 10.60
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Biogeography (publishedVersion)
- ResearchOnline at James Cook University (James Cook University) (submittedVersion)
- Open Access Server of the Woods Hole Scientific Community (Woods Hole Scientific Community) (submittedVersion)
- eSpace (Curtin University) (submittedVersion)
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology Repository (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic diversity and population structure
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Aquatic Science › Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Keywords
- Red Sea, Indian Ocean, reef fish, phylogeography, plate separation, endemism, cryptic species, population divergence, gene flow, colonization routes, range expansion, marine conservation, mitochondrial DNA, haplotype diversity
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