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New evidence for habitat-specific selection in Wadden Sea Zostera marina populations revealed by genome scanning using SNP and microsatellite markers

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Abstract

Eelgrass Zostera marina is an ecosystem-engineering species of outstanding importance for coastal soft sediment habitats that lives in widely diverging habitats. Our first goal was to detect divergent selection and habitat adaptation at the molecular genetic level; hence, we compared three pairs of permanently submerged versus intertidal populations using genome scans, a genetic marker-based approach. Three different statistical approaches for outlier identification revealed divergent selection at 6 loci among 46 markers (6 SNPs, 29 EST microsatellites and 11 anonymous microsatellites). These outlier loci were repeatedly detected in parallel habitat comparisons, suggesting the influence of habitat-specific selection. A second goal was to test the consistency of the general genome scan approach by doubling the number of gene-linked microsatellites and adding single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci, a novel marker type for seagrasses, compared to a previous study. Reassuringly, results with respect to selection were consistent among most marker loci. Functionally interesting marker loci were linked to genes involved in osmoregulation and water balance, suggesting different osmotic stress, and reproductive processes (seed maturation), pointing to different life history strategies. The identified outlier loci are valuable candidates for further investigation into the genetic basis of natural selection.

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Acknowledgments

We thank B. Hasert for technical assistance. Many thanks to Prof. Karsten Reise from AWI Sylt for help and support, as well as to Andreas Zipperle for help collecting samples. This work was funded by Max-Planck society and the DFG (grant no. Re 1108/7-1).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Plant Evolutionary Ecology, University of Münster, Hüfferstrasse 1, 48149, Münster, Germany

    Katharina Oetjen & Ilka Dankert

  2. Department of Marine Benthic Ecology and Evolution, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies (CEES), University of Groningen, PO Box 14, 9750 AA, Haren, The Netherlands

    Steven Ferber

  3. Evolutionary Ecology of Marine Fishes, Leibniz-Institut für Meereswissenschaften (IFM-GEOMAR), Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105, Kiel, Germany

    Katharina Oetjen & Thorsten B. H. Reusch

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  1. Katharina Oetjen
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  2. Steven Ferber
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  3. Ilka Dankert
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  4. Thorsten B. H. Reusch
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Correspondence to Thorsten B. H. Reusch.

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Communicated by S. Uthicke.

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Oetjen, K., Ferber, S., Dankert, I. et al. New evidence for habitat-specific selection in Wadden Sea Zostera marina populations revealed by genome scanning using SNP and microsatellite markers. Mar Biol 157, 81–89 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-009-1297-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-009-1297-8

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