Uncovering what predicts genetic diversity (GD) within species can help us access the status of populations and their evolutionary potential. Traits related to effective population size show a proportional association to GD, but evidence supports life-history strategies and habitat as the drivers of GD variation. Instead of investigating highly divergent taxa, focusing on one group could help to elucidate the factors influencing the GD. Additionally, most empirical data is based on vertebrate taxa; therefore, we might be missing novel patterns of GD found in neglected invertebrate groups. Here, we investigated the predictors of the GD in crabs (Brachyura) by compiling the most comprehensive cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) available. Eight predictor variables were analysed across 150 species (16 992 sequences) using linear models (multiple linear regression) and comparative methods (PGLS). Our results indicate that population size fluctuation represents the most critical trait predicting GD, with species that have undergone bottlenecks followed by population expansion showing lower GD. Egg size, pelagic larval duration and habitat might play a role probably because of their association with how species respond to disturbances. Ultimately, K-strategists that have undergone bottlenecks are the species showing lower GD. Some variables do not show an association with GD as expected, most likely due to the taxon-specific role of some predictors, which should be considered in further investigations and generalizations. This work highlights the complexity underlying the predictors of GD and adds results from a marine invertebrate group to the current understanding of this topic.
Keywords: Brachyura; COI; genetic variation; mtDNA; population size fluctuation; r/K strategies.
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