Molecular trails from hitch-hiking snails
Gittenberger, E.; Groenenberg, D.S.J.; Kokshoorn, B.; Preece, R.C. (2006). Molecular trails from hitch-hiking snails. Nature (Lond.) 439(7075): 409. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/439409a
In: Nature: International Weekly Journal of Science. Nature Publishing Group: London. ISSN 0028-0836; e-ISSN 1476-4687, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Gittenberger, E., more
- Groenenberg, D.S.J.
- Kokshoorn, B.
- Preece, R.C.
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| Abstract |
Darwin was fascinated by the transportation of land snails across great swathes of open ocean by birds — he even immersed snails in sea water to see how long they would survive. Here we follow a molecular phylogenetic trail that reveals the incredible transequatorial dispersal of the land snail Balea from Europe to the Azores and the Tristan da Cunha islands, and back again. This long-distance dispersal is unexpected for what are proverbially considered the most pedestrian of creatures. |
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