Molecular phylogeography of two Italian sibling species of Calobius (Coleoptera, Hydraenidae, Ochthebiinae) inhabiting Mediterranean marine rock-pools

Marine rock-pools, commonly found along the Mediterranean coasts, are isolated patches of habitat characterised by large spatial and temporal variations. The phylogeography of Calobius quadricollis and C. urbanelliae, two sibling species of moss beetles (Coleoptera, Hydraenidae) inhabiting Italian temporary marine rock-pool ecosystems, were studied using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). Our data suggest a strong association between the scored genetic variability and the geographical distribution of populations sampled for both species. These analyses provided evidences of episodic species range expansion and fragmentation, recurrent “flush and crash” and bottleneck episodes probably occurring during the Glacial Cycles. The observed phylogeographical pattern is probably related to the historical and biogeographical processes of Mediterranean areas, as well as both to the ephemeral habitat tipology and limited dispersal ability of these beetles.