Geographic Divergence in Population Genomics and Shell Morphology Reveal History of Glacial Refugia in a Coastal Dogwhelk

Abstract

Studying contemporaneous spatial patterns of genomic diversity can yield important insights into the evolutionary processes that structure populations and shape patterns of adaptation. In contrast to the large number of marine species with planktonic larvae, populations of marine taxa with low dispersal and deep evolutionary divergences offer an opportunity to reveal the phylogeographic histories of marine ecosystems. Here, we constructed a draft genome assembly for the low-dispersing marine dogwhelk, Nucella canaliculata, and studied patterns of genomic diversity and shell morphometrics in 19 populations distributed along [~]1,500 km of the west coast of North America. We observed significant population structure with a strong phylogeographic break at Monterey Bay, which was matched with divergence in shell morphology. Genomic patterns, concomitant with computer simulations, suggest that there were at least two refugial populations during the last glacial maximum that subsequently experienced post-glacial expansion and admixture. Lastly, linking genotype to phenotype, we identified candidate loci underlying variation in shell morphology. These findings demonstrate how high-resolution genomic data reveal the roles of demography, selection, and historical events in shaping the spatial distribution of genetic variation, offering key insights into the processes that structure modern coastal populations and their potential to respond to future climatic changes.