Collection Sites and Evolutionary Tree for Northern Pacific Sea Star, Blue Starfish and Crown-Of-Tho (IMAGE)

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University

Collection Sites and Evolutionary Tree for Northern Pacific Sea Star, Blue Starfish and Crown-Of-Tho

Caption

A: The Northern Pacific sea stars collected in mainland Japan fell into two different lineages, that split 4.7 million years ago due to geographic isolation. B: The blue starfish collected in the Ryukyus fell into two major lineages, with the second lineage comprised of two distinct groups. Individuals from both major lineages had not interbred despite living in same areas, suggesting the two lineages may be two distinct species of blue starfish. C: The crown-of-thorns starfish collected in the Ryukyus fell into five, small groups that diverged relatively recently. The tree suggests that new lineages arise due to contractions in population size.

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OIST

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