Comparative phylogeography of three host sea anemones in the Indo-Pacific

Aim

The mutualistic relationship between anemones and anemonefishes is one of the most iconic examples of symbiosis. However, while anemonefishes have been extensively studied in terms of genetic connectivity, such information is lacking entirely for host sea anemones. Here, we provide the first information on the broad-scale population structure and phylogeographic patterns of three species of host sea anemone, Heteractis magnifica, Stichodactyla mertensii, and Entacmaea quadricolor. We evaluate if there is concordance in genetic structure across several distinct biogeographic areas within the Indo-Pacific region and to what extent the observed patterns may concur with those found for anemonefishes. 

Location

Indo-Pacific, including the Red Sea.

Taxon

Heteractis magnifica, Stichodactyla mertensii, and Entacmaea quadricolor

Methods

Microsatellite markers and a combination of statistical methods includingBayesian clustering, Isolation by Distance (IBD), Analysis of M...