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Periwinkles (Gastropoda, Littorinidae) as a model for studying patterns and dynamics of marine biodiversity
Backeljau, T.; Frias Martins, A.M.; Gosling, E.; Grahame, J.; Mill, P.; Brito, C.; Clarke, A.; Medeiros, R.; Small, M.; Wilding, C.; Wilson, I.; Winnepenninckx, B.; Clarke, R.; De Wolf, H. (2001). Periwinkles (Gastropoda, Littorinidae) as a model for studying patterns and dynamics of marine biodiversity. Bull. Kon. Belg. Inst. Natuurwet. Biologie 71(Suppl.): 43-65
In: Bulletin van het Koninklijk Belgisch Instituut voor Natuurwetenschappen. Biologie = Bulletin de l'Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique. Biologie. Koninklijk Belgisch Instituut voor Natuurwetenschappen: Bruxelles. ISSN 0374-6429
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 
    Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee: Open Marine Archive 141459 [ download pdf ]

Keywords
    Biodiversity
    Physics > Mechanics > Dynamics
    Littorinidae Children, 1834 [WoRMS]
    Marine/Coastal

Authors  Top 
  • Backeljau, T.
  • Frias Martins, A.M.
  • Gosling, E.
  • Grahame, J.
  • Mill, P.
  • Brito, C.
  • Clarke, A.
  • Medeiros, R.
  • Small, M.
  • Wilding, C.
  • Wilson, I.
  • Winnepenninckx, B.
  • Clarke, R.
  • De Wolf, H.

Abstract
    This paper presents a summary synthesis of an international EC- funded research program in which periwinkles are used as a model group to study patterns and dynamics in marine biodiversity. In the first part of the paper, a number of techniques and markers to assess biodiversity in periwinkles are illustrated and evaluated, while protocols for DNA-extraction, Single-Strand Conformation Polymorphisms (SSCP) and PCR-amplification of a number of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA markers are provided. The second part of the paper presents a brief overview of the application of these techniques in the analysis of genetic diversity in two periwinkle taxa with contrasting developmental modes, viz. Littorifla striata and the L. saxatilis complex. Finally, these results are dis- cussed in the light of the implementation of the Evolutionarily significant Unit (ESU) and Management Unit (MU) concepts in (marine) conservation biology. It is concluded that, although these operational concepts are more appropriate than species level systematics for delineating relevant intraspecific diversity, they still may not adequately represent non-molecular evolutionarily relevant, diversity.

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