Dispersal and Differentiation of Deep-Sea Mussels of the GenusBathymodiolus(Mytilidae, Bathymodiolinae)

Abstract

We sequenced the mitochondrial ND4 gene to elucidate the evolutionary processes ofBathymodiolusmussels and mytilid relatives. Mussels of the subfamily Bathymodiolinae from vents and seeps belonged to 3 groups and mytilid relatives from sunken wood and whale carcasses assumed the outgroup positions to bathymodioline mussels. Shallow water mytilid mussels were positioned more distantly relative to the vent/seep mussels, indicating an evolutionary transition from shallow to deep sea via sunken wood and whale carcasses.Bathymodiolus platifronsis distributed in the seeps and vents, which are approximately 1500 km away. There was no significant genetic differentiation between the populations. There existed high gene flow betweenB. septemdierumandB. breviorand low but not negligible gene flow betweenB. marisindicusandB. septemdierumorB. brevior, although their habitats are 5000–10 000 km away. These indicate a high adaptability to the abyssal environments and a high dispersal ability ofBathymodiolusmussels.