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The hairy snails of the genus Alviniconcha are representative deep-sea hydrothermal vent animals distributed across the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. Out of six known species in the genus Alviniconcha, only one nominal species of A. marisindica was found in the Indian Ocean from the Carlsberg Ridge (CR), Central Indian Ridge (CIR) to the northern part of Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR) and Southeast Indian Ridge (SEIR). Recently, the Alviniconcha snails were found at three new vent fields, named Onnare, Onbada, and Onnuri, in the northern CIR, which promotes a more comprehensive phylogeographic study of this species. Here, we examined the phylogeography and connectivity of the Alviniconcha snails among seven vent fields representing the CR and CIR based on DNA sequence data of a mitochondrial COI gene and two protein-coding nuclear genes. Phylogenetic inferences revealed that the Alviniconcha snails of the newly found in the northern CIR and two vent fields of Wocan and Tianxiu in the CR were divergent with the previously identified A. marisindica in the southern CIR and mitochondrial COI data supported the divergence with at least greater than 3% sequence divergence. Population structure analyses based on the three genetic markers detected a phylogeographic boundary between Onnuri and Solitaire that divides the whole snail populations into northern and southern groups with a low migration rate. The high degree of genetic disconnection around the 'Onnuri' boundary suggests that the Alviniconcha snails in the Indian Ocean may undergo allopatric speciation. The border may similarly act as a dispersal barrier to many other vent species co-distributed in the CIR. This study would expand understanding the speciation and connectivity of vent species in the Indian Ocean.

The three skippers in the Vendee Globe solo round the world race who are having to avoid the worst of the violent Southern Ocean storm all are deploying different strategies. Two, Jean LE CAM in eighth and seventh placed Jean-Pierre DICK are headed in different directions as they outrun the worst of the winds nearest the centre of the low, while Yann ELIES in sixth has hove to and slowed right down - to just two or three knots at times - to hold a position which should ensure the strongest winds pass to his north.

Persistent light winds in the middle of the Pacific, nearly half way between New Zealand and Cape Horn means the chasing pack, led by rookie Paul MEILHAT (SMA), are slashing their distance to the two Vendée Globe leaders Alex THOMSON (Hugo BOSS) and Armel LE CLEAC'H (Banque Populaire VIII).

This afternoon at 0330hrs UTC and whilst TechnoFirst-faceOcean was sailing in a strong 30 knots of wind with three reefs in the mainsail and the J3, with her skipper inside, a rogue wave put the boat on her side, mast in the water.

Savage sea won't scare off Roz.

At 20:00 UTC on 26th September, Golden Globe Race HQ in Les Sables d'Olonne received a request from the manager of the 32ft sailing yacht Selene for assistance from any GGR yacht in the area because her skipper Kjell LITWIN is running out of water.

Just a month after the start of the Vendée Globe, on 6th December in the middle of the Indian Ocean to the north of the CROZET Islands, Kito DE PAVANT and his Bastide Otio hit an unidentified floating object. The damage was fatal for the boat and the skipper was forced to abandon the race and his monohull.... Fortunately, the French vessel, the MARION-DUFRESNE, which delivers supplies to the French islands in the Antarctic and Southern Ocean, was sailing close to the area when the incident happened. Kito was rescued and taken aboard the ship, which continued her delivery trip. A few months later, they were able to watch the videos recorded on the hard disk aboard the boat, and discovered that the unidentified object was in fact a sperm whale, which was clearly visible in the wake of the boat. You can watch the video here. Hang on tight!

Alors que débute la 5e semaine de ce Vendée Globe, les défis qui s'annoncent sont nombreux. En tête de course, Charlie DALIN (Apivia) et Thomas RUYANT (LinkedOut​) doivent décider de leur stratégie avant d'affronter un front conséquent à partir de demain. D'autres, comme Louis BURTON, sont déjà face à un autre front ce lundi matin. Loin de là, quatre skippers ont passé le cap de Bonne-Espérance hier et savent que la suite s'annonce particulièrement corsée.

Over 24 hours of intense work has left the inside of Louis BURTON's IMOCA Bureau Vallée in a mess but the third placed skipper confirmed this morning that his efforts, in collaboration with his shore team, have kept him in the race. Speaking on the 0400hrs TU call this morning, after he had just gybed at the Antarctic Exclusion Zone he said, "I'm pretty burnt out and I admit that I came close to having to abandon". True to the philosophy of many competitors BURTON was not giving everything away about his problems, other than having said earlier that he had automatic pilot troubles.

The three Vendée Globe leaders have the foot hard down on the accelerator, racing behind this low pressure system and so making good speeds and opening up the gap back to the chasing peloton which is now more than 200 miles behind. Charlie DALIN is doing his best to contain the highly motivated Thomas RUYANT who works constantly to find best speeds from his compromised IMOCA which lacks most of its port foil and Yannick BESTAVEN remains super quick. And now seven IMOCA's have crossed the longitude of Cape LEEUWIN, young Ben DUTREUX - the rookie from the Vendée region - is very happy to have crossed fourth.

Time to make hay for DALIN, RUYANT and BESTAVEN....Nine cross LEEUWIN within 24 hours of DALIN. Race midpoint beckons. The three leaders of the Vendée Globe, Charlie DALIN, Thomas RUYANT and Yannick BESTAVEN now have the potential to open up a meaningful distance on the group which has been chasing them hard as the top trio benefit from fast sailing conditions on the back of a low pressure system.

Following a violent collision last Wednesday evening, British Vendee Globe skipper Sam DAVIES (Initiatives-Cœur) sustained significant damage to the framework supporting the keel of her IMOCA. In consultation with her team, she made the decision to stop in Cape Town (South Africa).This morning as she arrived in Cape Town she confirmed by video at 0900hrs UTC that she is officially retiring from the race. But she says she is determined to return - after making repairs with her team and experts - to complete the race course as 'hors course', unclassified on the solo race which forbids any kind of outside assistance.

The next 24 hours will be the most challenging so far for Vendée Globe race leader Charlie DALIN (Apivia), especially through this evening and tonight as he will pass as close as he dare to the centre of a Southern Ocean low pressure system which is forecast to bring him gusts over 55kts and big seas. He told his team yesterday 'this is the biggest, most powerful storm I have had through since the start'. So today will mostly be about pushing on and preparing himself and his Apivia.

In the teeth of the biggest depression seen during this Vendée Globe race leader Charlie DALIN has had a tough night but reported briefly to his team that all is well on board Apivia. In a few more hours he should be through the worst of the storm which was forecasted to bring 45 knot mean windspeeds and 50-55kts in the gusts.

Modest speeds for Vendée Globe leaders... BESTAVEN holds third... STAMM talks of Pip HARE's Superbigou The Vendée Globe's leading duo Charlie DALIN and Thomas RUYANT are into a period of quieter winds as they recover from the big Indian Ocean storm which hit them on Tuesday night with gusts to 55 knots of wind and big seas.

Worst Of The Storm Passed for RUYANT and DALIN, Golden Ticket for Armel TRIPON. BEYOU Making Inroads. For the meantime the worst of the Indian Ocean is behind them and Vendée Globe leaders Charlie DALIN and Thomas RUYANT can contemplate a relatively smooth ride to Australia's Cape LEEUWIN, now 1250 nautical miles, or about three days, ahead of DALIN.

Late Thursday Manuel COUSIN noticed a major crack at the top of his port rudder. He immediately informed his team and Race Direction, that he was going to have to make repairs.

With no working computers Fabrice AMEDEO Abandons, DALIN's margin is halved, MERRON, SHIRAISHI Cross Good Hope.

The team at ARKEA PAPREC and French skipper Sébastien SIMON have confirmed he has abandoned his Vendée Globe. Last Wednesday morning at 0820hrs UTC his IMOCA hit a floating object and badly damaged his starboard foil and its housing. The boat has had a steady ingress of water which SIMON has largely dealt with. But with repairs seeming to be extremely complicated and probably requiring the foil to be cut into pieces, Simon and his team made the tough decision that he will give up. SIMON is on his way to Cape Town. He should reach the South African bay overnight from Saturday to Sunday.