Data from: Ocean circulation contributes to genetic connectivity of limpet populations at deep-sea hydrothermal vents in a back-arc basin

For endemic benthos inhabiting hydrothermal vent fields, larval
recruitment is critical for population maintenance and colonization via
migration among separated sites. The vent-endemic limpet, Lepetodrilus
nux, is abundant at deep-sea hydrothermal vents in the Okinawa Trough, a
back-arc basin in the northwestern Pacific; nonetheless, it is endangered
due to deep-sea mining. This species is associated with many other vent
species and is an important successor in these vent ecosystems. However,
limpet genetic diversity and connectivity among local populations have not
yet been examined. We conducted a population genetics study of L. nux at
five hydrothermal vent fields (maximum geographic distance, ~545 km;
depths ~700 m to ~1650 m) using 14 polymorphic microsatellite loci
previously developed. Genetic diversity has been maintained among these
populations. Meanwhile, fine population genetic structure was detected
between distant populations, even within this back-ark basin, reflecting
geographic distances between vent fields. There was a significant,
positive correlation between genetic differentiation and geographic
distance, but no correlation with depth. Contrary to dispersal patterns
predicted by an ocean circulation model, genetic migration is not
necessarily unidirectional, based on relative migration rates. While ocean
circulation contributes to dispersal of L. nux among vent fields
in the Okinawa Trough, genetic connectivity may be maintained by complex,
bidirectional dispersal processes over multiple generations.