Preprint volume - SIBM

Pre-print Volume - Posters
Topic 1: BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION SCIENCE: CONTRIBUTING TO MANAGEMENT
M. VALENTE 1,2 , F. MALTAGLIATI 2 , R. CUPIDO 1 , S. COCITO 1 ,
A. CASTELLI 2 , F.G. PANNACCIULLI 1
1 ENEA – Marine Environment Research Centre, PO Box 224 - 19100 La Spezia, Italia.
pannacciulli@enea.it
2 Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, Via Derna, 1 – Pisa, Italia.
ABSENCE OF GENETIC STRUCTURE IN THE GORGONIAN
PARAMURICEA CLAVATA (CNIDARIA, OCTOCORALLIA),
FROM THE NW MEDITERRANEAN, AS INFERRED BY THE COI GENE
ASSENZA DI STRUTTURA GENETICA NELLA GORGONIA PARAMURICEA
CLAVATA (CNIDARIA, OCTOCORALLIA), DAL MEDITERRANEO
NORD OCCIDENTALE, COME EVIDENZIATO DAL GENE COI
Abstract – Sequences of the subunit I of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase c gene (COI) were gathered
from samples of the red gorgonian Paramuricea clavata (Risso, 1826) (Cnidaria, Octocorallia) from four
locations of the NW Mediterranean. All sequences obtained were identical showing absence of
polymorphism at this gene. A slow rate of mutation of the gene or an efficient repairing system of this
species’ mtDNA may account for this result.
Key-words: Paramuricea clavata, genetic structure, COI, NW Mediterranean.
Introduction – Paramuricea clavata (Risso, 1826), a gorgonian endemic of the
Mediterranean Sea (Carpine & Grasshoff, 1975), plays a central role in the structure
and functioning of the coralligenous community, one of the most peculiar and diverse
Mediterranean biogenic reef. Recently, in the NW Mediterranean, P. clavata was
heavily damaged by repeated mortality events that occurred in conjunction with
anomalous seawater warming (Cupido et al., 2008). Since information about gene flow
in Mediterranean gorgonians is scarce, the aim of this study was to assess the
population genetic structure of P. clavata in an area affected by mass mortality as a
consequence of climate changes. Results on species’ genetic structure and population
connectivity may provide a valuable contribution to the development of opportune
conservation plans.
To date, a single study investigated the genetic structure of this species (Calderón et
al., 2006) by employing the mtDNA gene cytochrome c oxidase I (COI). Results
highlighted lack of genetic variability in the sequence of one individual from Marseille
and two from the Medes islands (Fig. 1). Given the limited number of individuals and
the restricted geographical area examined by Calderón et al. (2006), we decided to
extend the analysis to a higher number of specimens and a broader spatial scale.
Materials and methods – Specimens were gathered from three locations in the
Tyrrhenian Sea: Elba Island (42°45’ N, 10°25’ E), Quercianella (43°27’ N, 10°21 E)
and two sites at the Isle of Tinetto (44°02’ N, 9°85’ E), and from one location in the
Catalan Sea, Palamós (41°49’ N, 3°05’ E) (Fig. 1). At least 30 samples were collected
at each location.
41 st S.I.B.M. CONGRESS Rapallo (GE), 7-11 June 2010
86