Ancient DNA: a promising tool for understanding the evolutionary history of and human pressure on the highly endangered limpet Patella ferruginea

Abstract The use of ancient DNA has been proven to be a powerful tool in phylogenetic and phylogeographic studies. Nonetheless, its application in the field of conservation has been limited. Moreover, marine mollusc shells are well preserved in the fossil record, providing invaluable information about the past. However, the extraction of DNA from ancient shells is challenging and has only recently been performed. In this context, Patella ferruginea has been the target of intense research due to its endangered status in the Mediterranean, with several genetic approaches involving the use of fresh soft tissue samples. In the present study, for the first time, DNA from modern and ancient shells was successfully extracted and sequenced for this species, indicating that the COI haplotypes were the same as those already sequenced in previous studies based on fresh soft tissue samples. The fact that DNA retrieved from the Middle Ages had been sequenced for this species prompted further research to compare genetic diversity between ancient and present populations to assess the impact of glacial periods or human harvesting in shaping the genetic diversity of this flagship species.