The Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

2027 Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

January 12-15, 2027

Genomic insights into the population structure and adaptive evolution of Paralvinella cf. hessleri in Western Pacific deep-sea hot vents
ID:748 Oral Presentation

2027-01-13 16:35 (China Standard Time)

Session:Session 14 - Microbial connectivity at the deep-sea floor: sediment–water interactions, particles, and benthic–pelagic coupling

Abstract
How marine organisms achieve connectivity across highly fragmented deep-sea hydrothermal vents remains a fundamental question in evolutionary biology. While broad biogeographic patterns are documented, the interacting roles of bathymetry, ocean currents, and historical climate fluctuations in shaping intraspecific divergence remain largely elusive. The deep-sea hot vent endemic polychaete Paralvinella cf. hessleri, distributed across the Western Pacific, provides an opportunity to decode these complex dispersal mechanisms. Here, we present a comprehensive population genomic study of this species, analyzing 160 individuals across 12 well-separated hydrothermal vents covering Okinawa Trough, Izu-Ogasawara Arc and Mariana Arc. Surprisingly, substrate type, rather than geographic distance, drives primary population divergence. Extreme geochemical differences, notably pH and heavy metals, sharply isolate sediment-hosted Okinawa Trough populations from bare-rock Izu-Ogasawara and Mariana lineages. Regionally within the Okinawa Trough, the Kuroshio Current system drives asymmetric gene flow, while bathymetry strictly stratifies populations: deep vents (>1,000 m) maintain a massive panmictic gene pool, whereas shallow sites (~600 m) exhibit strong local adaptation. By untangling the synergistic effects of substrate heterogeneity, ocean currents, and depth on deep-sea diversification, our findings provide critical baselines for benthic conservation in the face of increasing anthropogenic impacts.
Speaker
Xin He Ocean University of China

Author
Xin He Ocean University of China

    Important Dates

    • Jan 30

      2026

      Session / Event proposals open

    • Mar 31

      2026

      Session / Event proposals close
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    • Apr 30

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    • Apr 30

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    • Jun 30

      2026

      Abstract submissions close
      (Extended to July 21)

    • Aug 31

      2026

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    • Sep 15

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    • Oct 15

      2026

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    • Jan 12–15

      2027

      XMAS 2027