Behind the mask: cryptic genetic diversity ofMytilus galloprovincialis along southern European and northern African shores

Morphological uniformity in geographically widespread species may cause genetically distinct entities to pass unnoticed if they can only be detected by molecular approaches. The importance of uncovering such cryptic diversity is prompted by the need to understand the putative adaptive potential of popula-tions along species ranges and to manage biodiversity conservation efforts. In this study, we aim to assess cryptic intraspecific genetic diversity and taxonomic status of the widely distributed intertidal musselMytilus galloprovincialis, along Atlantic southwestern (SW) Iberian, Atlantic northwestern (NW) Moroccan and Mediterranean Tunisian shores. By using mitochondrial (16S restriction-fragment length polymorphism) and nuclear (polyphenolic adhesive protein gene, Glu-50) markers, we dis-covered a more complex taxonomic diversity of M. galloprovincialis than previously known. Both Atlantic and Mediterranean haplogroups of M. galloprovincialis were detected along Atlantic SW Iberian shores along with M. galloprovincialis/edulis hybrids (92.2 % Atlantic, 3.9 % Mediterranean and 3.9 % hybrids). In contrast, NW Moroccan populations consisted solely of Atlantic M. galloprovincialis. The Mediterranean populations did not include M. galloprovincialis/edulis hybrids, but both Atlantic (58%) and Mediterranean (42%) lineages were detected. Divergent selection between coastlines and/ or indirect larval dispersal by human activities may be the drivers of this geographically structured genetic diversity