AUTHOR=Cen Xitong , Zhang Gege , Liu Huiru , Yao Gaoyou , Xiong Panpan , He Maoxian , Liu Wenguang 

TITLE=Analysis of genetic diversity in two different shell colors of the giant triton snail (Charonia tritonis) based on mitochondrial COI sequences

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Marine Science

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.1066750

DOI=10.3389/fmars.2022.1066750

ISSN=2296-7745

ABSTRACT=<p>The giant triton snail (<italic>Charonia tritonis</italic>) is widely distributed in tropical coral reefs in the Indo-West Pacific. Its distribution areas in China include the Penghu Islands, Hengchun Peninsula, and Xisha Islands. In this study, we use Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) to compare the live weight and shell length between different shell colors of <italic>C. tritonis</italic>. In addition, we conducted sequence analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase (COI) gene to assess the affinity of <italic>C. tritonis</italic> with two different shell colors based on the sample we obtained. Then, we constructed phylogenetic trees using the maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian Inference methods, and constructed haplotype network diagrams. In addition, we performed Tajima’s D and Fu’s neutrality tests. The results show that The Partial mitochondrial COI sequences of 28 <italic>C. tritonis</italic> were all 603 base pairs in length, and seven haplotypes were detected from the samples, besides, the gene flow was calculated to be 11.78, the genetic differentiation coefficient was 0.02078. Our results indicated that the population size of <italic>C. tritonis</italic> remained relatively stable. Besides, the genetic and size differentiation between the two different shell colors was small, and individuals of <italic>C. tritonis</italic> with different shell colors belong to the same genetic clade. In fact, the two morphotypes could not be distinguished by both genetic and morphometric data. The mitochondrial COI gene fragments of the two different shell colors were sequenced and analyzed to accumulate information about the population genetics of <italic>C. tritonis</italic> and to provide a scientific basis for the conservation of its species resources.The giant triton snail (<italic>Charonia tritonis</italic>) is widely distributed in tropical coral reefs in the Indo-West Pacific. Its distribution areas in China include the Penghu Islands, Hengchun Peninsula, and Xisha Islands. In this study, we use Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) to compare the live weight and shell length between different shell colors of <italic>C. tritonis</italic>. In addition, we conducted sequence analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase (COI) gene to assess the affinity of <italic>C. tritonis</italic> with two different shell colors based on the sample we obtained. Then, we constructed phylogenetic trees using the maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian Inference methods, and constructed haplotype network diagrams. In addition, we performed Tajima’s D and Fu’s neutrality tests. The results show that The Partial mitochondrial COI sequences of 28 <italic>C. tritonis</italic> were all 603 base pairs in length, and seven haplotypes were detected from the samples, besides, the gene flow was calculated to be 11.78, the genetic differentiation coefficient was 0.02078. Our results indicated that the population size of <italic>C. tritonis</italic> remained relatively stable. Besides, the genetic and size differentiation between the two different shell colors was small, and individuals of <italic>C. tritonis</italic> with different shell colors belong to the same genetic clade. In fact, the two morphotypes could not be distinguished by both genetic and morphometric data. The mitochondrial COI gene fragments of the two different shell colors were sequenced and analyzed to accumulate information about the population genetics of <italic>C. tritonis</italic> and to provide a scientific basis for the conservation of its species resources.</p>