Phylogeography and evolutionary dynamism of marine gastropods from the Lord Howe Island Group

Marine gastropods from the Lord Howe Island Group (LHIG), located ~580 km off continental Australia, exhibit recent genetic connections to both tropical and temperate regions. A study using mitochondrial DNA sequences revealed that most LHIG species of the muricid subfamily Ergalataxinae, particularly Tenguella marginalba, share close relationships with temperate mainland conspecifics, while endemic taxa like Cellana howensis and Bembicium flavescens show tropical and southern temperate affinities, respectively. The most recent common ancestors (MCRAs) of these species postdate the archipelago's emergence, suggesting either recent colonization or the influence of Pleistocene environmental changes on their genetic diversity. This research sheds light on the dynamic evolutionary history of marine gastropods in the LHIG, challenging assumptions about long-term endemism.

Colgan, D. J., & Woods, C. L. (2022). Phylogeography and evolutionary dynamism of marine gastropods from the Lord Howe Island Group. Marine and Freshwater Research, 73(7), 884–899. https://doi.org/10.1071/mf21301