Patterns of genetic and morphometric diversity in the marbled crab (Pachygrapsus marmoratus, Brachyura, Grapsidae) populations across the Tunisian coast

• Published in: Acta oceanologica Sinica Vol. 34; no. 6; pp. 49 - 58
• Main Authors: Deli, Temim, Bahles, Hiba, Said, Khaled, Chatti, Noureddine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing The Chinese Society of Oceanography 01.06.2015; Springer Nature B.V; Laboratory of Genetics, Biodiversity and Enhancement of Bioresources LR11ES41, University of Monastir, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia
• Subjects: Aquatic crustaceans; Biogeography; Carapace; Climatology; Crabs; Crustaceans; Cytochrome oxidase I; Cytochromes; Discriminant analysis; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Ecology; Engineering Fluid Dynamics; Environmental Chemistry; Genetic distance; Genetic diversity; Genetic variation; Haplotypes; Homogeneity; Marine & Freshwater Sciences; Marine crustaceans; Mitochondrial DNA; Morphometry; Multivariate analysis; Oceanography; Pachygrapsus marmoratus; Phenotypic variation; Phenotypic variations; Population structure; Population studies; Populations; Sexual dimorphism; Statistical analysis; Structural analysis; Variance analysis; genetic homogeneity; morphological differentiation; COI; multivariate analysis; Tunisian coast; Pachygrapsus marmoratus
• ISSN: 0253-505X; 1869-1099
• DOI: 10.1007/s13131-015-0687-7

The present study reports on population structure analysis of the marbled crab Pachygrapsus marmoratus (Fabricius, 1787) from the Tunisian coast, an appropriate location to study biogeographical processes because of the presence of a well-known discontinuous biogeographic area (the Siculo-Tunisian Strait). Patterns of morphological and genetic variation of this highly dispersive and continuously distributed decapod species were assessed among its geographically close populations which cover almost the entire Tunisian coastline. A total of 386 specimens from nine sites were collected and examined for morphometric variability at 14 morphometric traits. The results of multivariate analyses of linear morphometric traits showed the existence of sexual dimorphism in this species by PERMANOVA (Permutational multivariate analysis of variance). In addition, both CDA (Canonical discriminant analysis) and NPMANOVA (Non parametric MANOVA test) analyses revealed statistically significant differences among the studied locations for both sexes. Overall, the outcome of CDA analysis showed that over 87% of individuals could be assigned correctly to three regional groups in both sexes (North, Center and South). Specifically, SIMPER (Similarity Percentages) analysis showed that carapace length, carapace width and merus length were major contributors to the morphometric separation between populations. The pattern of phenotypic variation suggested by morphometric analyses was found to be highly discordant with that suggested by the analysis of a mitochondrial marker (cytochrome oxidase I, COI). Indeed, the results inferred from restriction fragment analysis of the COI in 180 crabs, suggested high genetic homogeneity. Very low levels of haplotype diversity ( h ) were found in almost all the studied populations, associated with non significant genetic distances for nearly all population comparisons. Explanations to these morphometric and mtDNA patterns as well as the discrepancy between them are discussed.