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Buonomo R, Assis J, Fernandes F, Engelen AH, Airoldi L, Serrão EA. Habitat continuity and stepping-stone oceanographic distances explain population genetic connectivity of the brown alga Cystoseira amentacea. Mol Ecol 2017; 26:766-780. [PMID: 27997043 DOI: 10.1111/mec.13960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2016] [Revised: 11/11/2016] [Accepted: 11/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Effective predictive and management approaches for species occurring in a metapopulation structure require good understanding of interpopulation connectivity. In this study, we ask whether population genetic structure of marine species with fragmented distributions can be predicted by stepping-stone oceanographic transport and habitat continuity, using as model an ecosystem-structuring brown alga, Cystoseira amentacea var. stricta. To answer this question, we analysed the genetic structure and estimated the connectivity of populations along discontinuous rocky habitat patches in southern Italy, using microsatellite markers at multiple scales. In addition, we modelled the effect of rocky habitat continuity and ocean circulation on gene flow by simulating Lagrangian particle dispersal based on ocean surface currents allowing multigenerational stepping-stone dynamics. Populations were highly differentiated, at scales from few metres up to thousands of kilometres. The best possible model fit to explain the genetic results combined current direction, rocky habitat extension and distance along the coast among rocky sites. We conclude that a combination of variable suitable habitat and oceanographic transport is a useful predictor of genetic structure. This relationship provides insight into the mechanisms of dispersal and the role of life-history traits. Our results highlight the importance of spatially explicit modelling of stepping-stone dynamics and oceanographic directional transport coupled with habitat suitability, to better describe and predict marine population structure and differentiation. This study also suggests the appropriate spatial scales for the conservation, restoration and management of species that are increasingly affected by habitat modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Buonomo
- CCMAR-CIMAR Laboratorio Associado, F.C.T.- Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche ed Ambientali, UO Conisma, University of Bologna, Via S. Alberto 163, 48123, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Jorge Assis
- CCMAR-CIMAR Laboratorio Associado, F.C.T.- Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
| | - Francisco Fernandes
- CCMAR-CIMAR Laboratorio Associado, F.C.T.- Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
| | - Aschwin H Engelen
- CCMAR-CIMAR Laboratorio Associado, F.C.T.- Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
| | - Laura Airoldi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche ed Ambientali, UO Conisma, University of Bologna, Via S. Alberto 163, 48123, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Ester A Serrão
- CCMAR-CIMAR Laboratorio Associado, F.C.T.- Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
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Peliz A, Marchesiello P, Santos AMP, Dubert J, Teles-Machado A, Marta-Almeida M, Le Cann B. Surface circulation in the Gulf of Cadiz: 2. Inflow-outflow coupling and the Gulf of Cadiz slope current. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009. [DOI: 10.1029/2008jc004771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Eddy-resolving modeling of overflows. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1029/177gm06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
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