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A hidden world beneath the sand : testing phylogeographic and biogeographic patterns of Southern African sandy beach species

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2018.

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Main Author: Mbongwa, Nozibusiso A.
Other Authors: Von der Heyden, Sophie
Format: Thesis
Language:en_ZA
Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2018
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access_status_str Open Access
author Mbongwa, Nozibusiso A.
author2 Von der Heyden, Sophie
author_browse Mbongwa, Nozibusiso A.
Von der Heyden, Sophie
author_facet Von der Heyden, Sophie
Mbongwa, Nozibusiso A.
author_sort Mbongwa, Nozibusiso A.
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv Stellenbosch University
description Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2018.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/103861
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language en_ZA
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:41:41.074Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2018
publishDateRange 2018
publishDateSort 2018
publisher Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
publisherStr Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
record_format dspace
source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/103861 A hidden world beneath the sand : testing phylogeographic and biogeographic patterns of Southern African sandy beach species Mbongwa, Nozibusiso A. Von der Heyden, Sophie Hui, Cang Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Botany and Zoology. Phylogeographic breaks Biogeographic patterns Sandy beach species of Southern Africa Tylos -- Genetics Excirolana -- Genetics UCTD Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2018. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa‟s sandy shores are listed as some of the best studied in the world, however, most of these studies have focused on documenting biodiversity and the classification of beach type and there is a distinct lack of genetic data. This has led to a poor understanding of biogeographic and phylogeographic patterns of southern African sandy beach species. Thus, in order to contribute towards plugging the phylogeography knowledge gap, the objectice of this study is to determine levels of genetic differentiation in isopods of the genera Tylos and Excirolana in the South African coast to understand their genetic diversity, connectivity and diversification processes. Individuals (n = 214) of T. granulatus were sampled from nine locations along the west coast of South Africa and Namibia, almost covering the full distribution range of the species. Sequence data was obtained using the mitochondrial genes, COI and 16S. A total of ten sampling locations were covered for E. latipes (n = 140) and nine for E. natalensis (n = 171). For both species, sequence data was obtained with the mtDNA COI gene. Sequences from the COI gene of T. granulatus yielded 44 haplotypes and 91% singletons. Overall, results indicated high haplotype diversity (h = 0.25 - 1.00) and low nucleotide diversity (π = 0.00 - 0.13). Further analyses revealed a strong pattern of genetic divergence characterized by two deeply divergent lineages of T. granulatus, with pairwise comparisons (Φst) ranging from 0.01 to 0.98 (P < 0.05). The genetic pattern is influenced by a phylogeographic break located between Hondeklip Bay and Kleinzee. Dating this divergence reveals a link to the Plio-Pleistocene transition that was characterized by low ocean temperatures and rapid climate and oceanographic oscillations, that also had major impacts on biogeographic and phylogeographic patterns of marine species elsewhere. Results indicated that E. latipes and E. natalensis are sister species with monophyletic groupings. Excirolana latipes was characterized by a strong genetic structure across Cape Point, that appears to act as a barrier to gene flow between the western and southern lineages. Similarly, mtDNA COI revealed two distinct lineages within E.natalensis, although Cape Point did not appear as a significant barrier to gene flow for this species. This provides evidence that although both species have similar life-history patterns and are sympatric; their phylogeographic patterns are driven by different phylogeographic breaks. The estimates of the divergence within lineages of both Excirolana species (140 000 - 1.23 Ma) suggest a strong link with the Pleistocene period. In addition, both Excirolana species were characterised by deeply divergent lineages, potentially indicating cryptic species. This study revealed unknown diversities and possibilities of cryptic speciation. All three isopods were characterized by distinct lineages that should be regarded at least as Management Units (MUs) until nuclear markers and further samples are added. These MUs should be considered separately in conservation and management aims of sandy beaches. Most importantly, the outcome of this study shows the importance of integrating genetic approaches into marine conservation in South Africa. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar 2018-02-17T13:49:18Z 2018-04-09T11:46:01Z 2019-03-31T03:00:09Z 2018-03 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/103861 en_ZA Stellenbosch University 125 pages : illustrations, maps application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
spellingShingle Phylogeographic breaks
Biogeographic patterns
Sandy beach species of Southern Africa
Tylos -- Genetics
Excirolana -- Genetics
UCTD
Mbongwa, Nozibusiso A.
A hidden world beneath the sand : testing phylogeographic and biogeographic patterns of Southern African sandy beach species
title A hidden world beneath the sand : testing phylogeographic and biogeographic patterns of Southern African sandy beach species
title_full A hidden world beneath the sand : testing phylogeographic and biogeographic patterns of Southern African sandy beach species
title_fullStr A hidden world beneath the sand : testing phylogeographic and biogeographic patterns of Southern African sandy beach species
title_full_unstemmed A hidden world beneath the sand : testing phylogeographic and biogeographic patterns of Southern African sandy beach species
title_short A hidden world beneath the sand : testing phylogeographic and biogeographic patterns of Southern African sandy beach species
title_sort hidden world beneath the sand testing phylogeographic and biogeographic patterns of southern african sandy beach species
topic Phylogeographic breaks
Biogeographic patterns
Sandy beach species of Southern Africa
Tylos -- Genetics
Excirolana -- Genetics
UCTD
url http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/103861
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