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Intraspecific Variation In Carapace Morphology Among Fiddler Crabs (Genus Uca) From The Atlantic Coast Of Brazil, Kelsey R. Hampton, Melanie J. Hopkins, John C. Mcnamara, Carl L. Thurman

Faculty Publications

Isolation due to geographical barriers should promote genetic and morphological divergence among populations. Marine currents flowing in opposing directions along landmasses can constitute barriers that isolate populations dependent upon aquatic dispersal. The distribution of fiddler crabs (genus Uca) is regulated primarily by the oceanic transport of their planktonic larvae and by available adult habitat. Along the Brazilian coast of eastern South America, the flow of 2 major oceanic currents separates northern from southern Uca populations, which may promote intraspecific divergence in ‘trans-Brazilian’ species. Populations of 10 Uca species were sampled at 64 locations north and south of the Ponta …