The predator-prey interactions within food chains are used to both characterize and understand ecosystems. Conventional methods of constructing from visual identification prey in predator diet can suffer poor taxonomic resolution, misidentification, bias against small or completely digestible prey. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology has become a powerful tool for reconstruction through barcoding DNA stomach content fecal samples. Here we use multi-locus (16S CO1) next-generation...

Patterns of population genetic variation have frequently been understood as consequences life history covariates such dispersal ability and breeding systems (e.g. selfing). For example, marine invertebrates show enormous in traits that are correlated with the extent gene flow between populations magnitude differentiation among at neutral markers ( F ST ). Here we document an unexpected correlation invertebrate histories deviation from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (non-zero values IS ,...

Molecular scatology and next-generation sequencing identified previously unknown linkages among ecosystems in the diet of Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) Bay Fundy, Canada. During their annual migratory stopover, birds consumed a wider range prey items than reported, which suggests that they are not selecting for amphipod Corophium volutator acting as generalist foragers. Our analysis several novel items—arachnids, crabs, bivalves, terrestrial freshwater insect species,...

We used frequency-based and coalescent-based phylogeographic analysis of sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences previously published microsatellite data to understand the relative influence colonization gene flow from older (north Pacific) younger (northeast Atlantic) populations on genetic variation in northwest Atlantic. found strong evidence survival northwestern Atlantic local Pleistocene glacial refugia: most haplotypes were same as or closely...

We tested for genetic differentiation among six populations of California sea mussels (Mytilus californianus) sampled across 4000 km its geographical range by comparing patterns variation at four independent types markers: allozymes, single-copy nuclear DNA markers, and sequences from the male female mitochondrial genomes. Despite our extensive sampling genotyping efforts, we detected no significant differences localities signal isolation distance suggesting that M. californianus is...

Patiria miniata, a broadcast-spawning sea star species with high dispersal potential, has geographic range in the intertidal zone of northeast Pacific Ocean from Alaska to California that is characterized by large gap Washington and Oregon. We analyzed spatial genetic variation across P. miniata using multilocus sequence data (mtDNA, nuclear introns) genotype (microsatellites). found strong phylogeographic break at Queen Charlotte Sound British Columbia was not location predicted...

The field of phylogeography has long since realized the need and utility incorporating nuclear DNA (nDNA) sequences into analyses. However, use nDNA sequence data, at population level, been hindered by technical laboratory difficulty, sequencing costs, problematic analytical methods dealing with genotypic especially in non-model organisms. Here, we present a method utilizing 454 GS-FLX Titanium pyrosequencing platform capacity to simultaneously two species sea star (Meridiastra calcar...

Life history plays a critical role in governing microevolutionary processes such as gene flow and adaptation, well macroevolutionary speciation. Here, we use multilocus phylogeographic analyses to examine speciation event involving spectacular life-history differences between sister species of sea stars. Cryptasterina hystera has evolved suite derived traits (including internal self-fertilization brood protection) that differ from its pentagona , gonochoric broadcast spawner . We show these...

We used frequency-based and coalescent-based phylogeographic analysis of sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences previously published microsatellite data to understand the relative influence colonization gene flow from older (north Pacific) younger (northeast Atlantic) populations on genetic variation in northwest Atlantic. found strong evidence survival northwestern Atlantic local Pleistocene glacial refugia: most haplotypes were same as or closely...

Phylogeographic studies designed to estimate rates and patterns of genetic differentiation within species often reveal unexpected graphically striking cases allele or haplotype sharing between (introgression) via hybridization backcrossing. Does introgression significantly influence population structure relative more conventional sources (drift) similarity (dispersal) among populations species? Here we use mtDNA sequences from four in two genera sea urchins stars quantify the magnitude gene...

The evolution of incompatibilities between eggs and sperm is thought to play important roles in establishing maintaining reproductive isolation among species broadcast-spawning marine invertebrates. However, the effectiveness gametic initiating speciation process and/or limiting introgression genes at later stages divergence remains largely unknown. In present study, we collected DNA sequence data from five loci four Strongylocentrotus sea urchins (S. droebachiensis, S. pallidus, purpuratus,...

Abstract Life‐history traits, especially the mode and duration of larval development, are expected to strongly influence population connectivity phylogeography marine species. Comparative analysis sympatric, closely related species with differing life histories provides opportunity specifically investigate these mechanisms evolution but have been equivocal in this regard. Here, we sample two sympatric sea stars across same geographic range temperate waters Australia. Using a combination...

Abstract. Historically, characters from early animal development have been a potentially rich source of phylogenetic information, but many traits associated with the gametes and larval stages animals complex life cycles are widely suspected to evolved frequent convergent similarities. Such convergences will confound true relationships. We compared inferences based on history those mitochondrial DNA sequences for sea stars in genera Asterina, Cryptasterina , Patiriella (Valvatida:...

Abstract Many benthic marine invertebrates show striking range disjunctions across broad spatial scales. Without direct evidence for endemism or introduction, these species remain cryptogenic. The common ragworm Hediste diversicolor plays a pivotal role in sedimentary littoral ecosystems of the North Atlantic as an abundant prey item and ecosystem engineer, but exhibits restricted dispersal capacity that may limit connectivity at both evolutionary ecological time In Europe, H. is subdivided...

We document an extreme example of reproductive trait evolution that affects population genetic structure in sister species Parvulastra cushion stars from Australia. Self-fertilization by hermaphroditic adults and brood protection benthic larvae causes strong inbreeding range-wide poverty. Most samples were fixed for a single allele at nearly all nuclear loci; heterozygotes extremely rare (0.18%); mitochondrial DNA sequences more variable, but few populations shared haplotypes common....

Resolving the natural histories of species is important for interpretation ecological patterns, as it provides evolutionary context interactions between organisms and their environment. Despite playing an integral role on intertidal mudflats North Atlantic abundant food source predators ecosystem engineer that alters soft sediment environment, no previous studies have provided empirical evidence to determine biogeographical origin amphipod Corophium volutator. To resolve its status...

Abstract The same vectors that introduce species to new ranges could move them among native populations, but how human‐mediated dispersal impacts has been difficult address because and natural can simultaneously shape patterns of gene flow. Here, we disentangle from by exploiting a system where the primary vector was once extensive since ceased. From 10th 19th Centuries, ships in North Atlantic exchanged sediments dredged intertidal for ballast, which ended when seawater ballast tanks were...

Distinguishing between intra- and inter-specific variation in genetic studies is critical to understanding evolution because the mechanisms driving change among populations are expected be different than those that shape reproductive isolation lineages. Genetic of north Atlantic green sea urchins Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis (Müller, 1776) have detected significant population substructure asymmetric gene flow from Europe Canada interspecific hybridization S. pallidus (Sars, 1871)....

Abstract We present six dinucleotide repeats that were developed and characterized in Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis also tested S. purpuratus . Four of these loci are polymorphic (13–20 alleles, N = 100) five (5–12 10). currently using markers to investigate the population substructure shallow water populations north Atlantic.

Abstract Mitochondrial DNA analyses indicate that the Bay of Fundy population intertidal tellinid bivalve Macoma petalum is genetically divergent from coastal populations in Gulf Maine and Nova Scotia. To further examine evolutionary forces driving this genetic break, we performed double digest genotype by sequencing ( GBS ) to survey nuclear genome for evidence both neutral selective processes shaping pattern. The resulting reads were mapped a partial transcriptome its sister species, M....