Reproductive strategy as a piece of the biogeographic puzzle: a case study using Antarctic sea stars (Echinodermata, Asteroidea).

• Published in: Journal of Biogeography
• Main Authors: Moreau, Camille, Saucède, Thomas, Jossart, Quentin, Agüera, Antonio, Brayard, Arnaud, Danis, Bruno
• Other Authors: Laboratoire de Biologie Marine, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Biogéosciences UMR 6282 (BGS), Université de Bourgogne (UB)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Work supported by a “Fonds pour la formation à la Recherche dans l’Industrie et l’Agriculture” (FRIA) grants.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2017
• Subjects: Antarctica; benthos; biogeographic barrier; Echinodermata; invertebrate; regionalization; reproductive mode; sea stars; Southern Ocean; [SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology; [SDV.BID]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biodiversity; Antarctic; New Zealand; West Antarctica; Antarc*; Tierra del Fuego
• Online Access: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01501245; https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.12965

13 pages International audience AimTo describe and analyse asteroid biogeographic patterns in the Southern Ocean (SO) and test whether reproductive strategy (brooder versus broadcaster) can explain distribution patterns at the scale of the entire class. We hypothesize that brooding and broadcasting species display different biogeographic patterns.LocationSouthern Ocean, south of 45 °S.MethodsOver 14,000 asteroid occurrences are analysed using bootstrapped spanning network (BSN), non-metrical multidimensional scaling (nMDS) and clustering to uncover the spatial structure of faunal similarities among 25 bioregions.ResultsMain biogeographic patterns are congruent with previous works based on other taxa and highlight the isolation of New Zealand, the high richness in the Scotia Arc area particularly of brooding species, an East/West Antarctic differentiation, and the faunal affinities between South America and sub-Antarctic Islands. Asteroids show lower endemism levels than previously reported with 29% of species occurring in Antarctica only. In particular, asteroids from Tierra del Fuego showed affinities with those of West Antarctica at the species level, suggesting a recent mixing of assemblages. Biogeographic patterns are highly linked to reproductive strategy. Patterns also differ according to the taxonomic level, revealing the underlying role of historical factors.Main conclusionsPatterns of sea star biogeography are consistent with results obtained for other marine groups and are strongly linked to reproductive strategy.