Publication Abstract

Hydrothermal-vent alvinellid polychaete dispersal in the eastern Pacific. 2. Long-term effects of vent dynamics on the genetic structure of populations

Hydrothermal-vent alvinellid polychaete dispersal in the eastern Pacific. 2. Long-term effects of vent dynamics on the genetic structure of populations

D. Jollivet, P. Chevaldonne and B. Planque

Marine organisms typically fall into two main categories: those with a high level of population structuring and those with a low one. The first are often found to be poor dispersers, following isolation by distance or stepping-stone theoretical predictions. The second are commonly associated with high-dispersal taxa and are best described by the island model. Deep-sea hydrothermal vent systems represent a good model for studying one-dimensional metapopulations. Whereas isolation by distance might be expected to be the rule in such a system for species with limited dispersal capabilities, a biological paradox can be observed: an apparent genetic homogeneity in some vent species with short-scale dispersal potential, in a one-dimensional fragmented habitat. This can be explained if one key assumption of the existing models is not met: gene flow between populations and genetic drift may not have the time to equilibrate. Geophysical models revealed that hydrothermal convection is intrinsically unstable, inducing processes of coalescence or splitting of venting areas in a chaotic manner.

Reference:

D. Jollivet, P. Chevaldonne and B. Planque, 1999. Hydrothermal-vent alvinellid polychaete dispersal in the eastern Pacific. 2. Long-term effects of vent dynamics on the genetic structure of populations. Evolution, 53: 1128-1142.

D. Jollivet, P. Chevaldonne and B. Planque*

Evolution, 53: 1128-1142