Divergence in Proteins, Mitochondrial DNA, and Reproductive Compatibility Across the Isthmus of Panama
Bermingham, E. & Lessios, H.A. (1993). “Rate Variation of Protein and Mitochondrial DNA Evolution as Revealed by Sea Urchins Separated by the Isthmus of Panama.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 90(7): pp. 2734–2738.
Another research was made in regards to the closure of Isthmus of Panama 3 MA based on changes in oxygen/carbon ratios in sea water. The main subject studied was sea urchins. Bermingham and Lessios compared mtDNA and protein divergence among three differ species of sea urchins--Diadema, Echinometra, & Eucidaris. Results concluded that protein divergence between Atlantic and Pacific sea urchin species only differed by 1 order of magnitude, so no significant difference. The Diadema species had an overlap of allele frequencies whereas the other two species displayed fixed loci for differ alleles of both shores, which may hint towards gradual genetic drift or mutations.This proves that other marine life besides the Alpheus shrimp community were also affected by a change in the environment via closure of Panama Isthmus.
~(J.D.A.)