Geographical patterns of dominant bivalves and a polychaete in Europe: no metapopulations in the marine coastal zone?

Abstract.

The genetic diversity, differentiation and performance of some dominant invertebrates in the marine coastal zone of Europe are reviewed in order to discuss the use of the metapopulation concept in the marine coastal realm. A consistently high genetic diversity of the species studied (mussels of the Mytilus edulis complex, Baltic clams Macoma balthica and lugworms Arenicola marina), a low differentiation and an almost uniform ecophysiological performance (determined by growth, maximum length, level reserve constituents or stress resistance) all along the coast of Europe do not support the use of the metapopulation concept.