Evolution and Pattern of connectivity in some species of the genus Patella from the Algerian coast

Abstract

The aim of this work is to study the phylogeny and the phylogeography of three species of limpets (Patella rustica, Patella ferruginea and Patella caerulea) living in the Algerian shore to understand the pattern of connectivity between populations by explaining the causes of their differences, their distribution and their responses to environmental change using the paleontological data. After identifying our species morphologically, we performed the molecular work (DNA extraction, PCR, DNA sequencing ...) using the mitochondrial marker Cytochrome Oxydase I (COI). Around 45 sequences of 584 bp of the COI portion were treated using some software (FinchTV, BioEdit, MEGA 5…). We noted that the genetic divergence and geographic distribution among species were consistent with some paleontological changes, which could be the cause of differences of the studied species