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Rachmilovitz EN, Shaish L, Douek J, Rinkevich B. Population genetics assessment of two pocilloporid coral species from the northern red sea: Implications for urbanized reef sustainability. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 199:106580. [PMID: 38851082 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Understanding the genetic makeup of key coral species is vital for effective coral reef management, as heightened genetic diversity directly influences long-term survival and resilience against environmental changes. This study focused on two widespread Indo-Pacific branching corals, Pocillopora damicornis (referred as Pocillopora cf. damicornis (as identified only morphologically) and Seriatopora hystrix, by genotyping 222 and 195 colonies, respectively, from 10 sites in the northern Gulf of Eilat, Red Sea, using six and five microsatellite markers, respectively. Both species exhibited low observed heterozygosity (0.47 for P. cf. damicornis, 0.32 for S. hystrix) and similar expected heterozygosity (0.576 for P. cf. damicornis, 0.578 for S. hystrix). Pocillopora cf. damicornis showed minimal deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) and low but positive F values, indicating high gene flow, while S. hystrix exhibited higher diversion from HWE and positive F values, suggesting isolation by distance and possible non-random mating or genetic drift. As the Gulf of Eilat undergoes rapid urbanization, this study highlights the anthropogenic impacts on the population genetics of key ecosystem engineering species and emphasizes the importance of managing genetics of Marine Protected Areas while implementing active coral reef restoration. The differences in reproductive traits between the two species (S. hystrix being a brooder, while P. cf. damicornis a broadcast spawner), underscore the need for sustainable population genetics management of the coral reefs for the future and resilience of the coral reef ecosystem of the northern Red Sea region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elad Nehoray Rachmilovitz
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Tel Shikmona, P.O. Box 2336, Haifa, 3102201, Israel; Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa, 3498838, Israel.
| | - Lee Shaish
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Tel Shikmona, P.O. Box 2336, Haifa, 3102201, Israel
| | - Jacob Douek
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Tel Shikmona, P.O. Box 2336, Haifa, 3102201, Israel.
| | - Baruch Rinkevich
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Tel Shikmona, P.O. Box 2336, Haifa, 3102201, Israel.
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2
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Thomas L, Şahin D, Adam AS, Grimaldi CM, Ryan NM, Duffy SL, Underwood JN, Kennington WJ, Gilmour JP. Resilience to periodic disturbances and the long-term genetic stability in Acropora coral. Commun Biol 2024; 7:410. [PMID: 38575730 PMCID: PMC10995172 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06100-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Climate change is restructuring natural ecosystems. The direct impacts of these events on biodiversity and community structure are widely documented, but the impacts on the genetic variation of populations remains largely unknown. We monitored populations of Acropora coral on a remote coral reef system in northwest Australia for two decades and through multiple cycles of impact and recovery. We combined these demographic data with a temporal genetic dataset of a common broadcast spawning corymbose Acropora to explore the spatial and temporal patterns of connectivity underlying recovery. Our data show that broad-scale dispersal and post-recruitment survival drive recovery from recurrent disturbances, including mass bleaching and mortality. Consequently, genetic diversity and associated patterns of connectivity are maintained through time in the broader metapopulation. The results highlight an inherent resilience in these globally threatened species of coral and showcase their ability to cope with multiple disturbances, given enough time to recover is permitted.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Thomas
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, Australia.
- UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia.
| | - D Şahin
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, Australia
- UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - A S Adam
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, Australia
| | - C M Grimaldi
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, Australia
- UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - N M Ryan
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, Australia
| | - S L Duffy
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, Australia
- UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - J N Underwood
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, Australia
| | - W J Kennington
- UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - J P Gilmour
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, Australia
- UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
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3
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Lord KS, Lesneski KC, Buston PM, Davies SW, D'Aloia CC, Finnerty JR. Rampant asexual reproduction and limited dispersal in a mangrove population of the coral Porites divaricata. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231070. [PMID: 37403501 PMCID: PMC10320353 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Corals are critical to marine biodiversity. Reproduction and dispersal are key to their resilience, but rarely quantified in nature. Exploiting a unique system-a fully censused, longitudinally characterized, semi-isolated population inhabiting mangroves-we used 2bRAD sequencing to demonstrate that rampant asexual reproduction most likely via parthenogenesis and limited dispersal enable the persistence of a natural population of thin-finger coral (Porites divaricata). Unlike previous studies on coral dispersal, knowledge of colony age and location enabled us to identify plausible parent-offspring relationships within multiple clonal lineages and develop tightly constrained estimates of larval dispersal; the best-fitting model indicates dispersal is largely limited to a few metres from parent colonies. Our results explain why this species is adept at colonizing mangroves but suggest limited genetic diversity in mangrove populations and limited connectivity between mangroves and nearby reefs. As P. divaricata is gonochoristic, and parthenogenesis would be restricted to females (whereas fragmentation, which is presumably common in reef and seagrass habitats, is not), mangrove populations likely exhibit skewed sex ratios. These findings suggest that coral reproductive diversity can lead to distinctly different demographic outcomes in different habitats. Thus, coral conservation will require the protection of the entire coral habitat mosaic, and not just reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Scavo Lord
- Boston University Department of Biology and Marine Program, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Kathryn C. Lesneski
- Boston University Department of Biology and Marine Program, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Peter M. Buston
- Boston University Department of Biology and Marine Program, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Sarah W. Davies
- Boston University Department of Biology and Marine Program, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Cassidy C. D'Aloia
- University of Toronto Mississauga Department of Biology, Mississauga, ON, Canada L5L 1C6
| | - John R. Finnerty
- Boston University Department of Biology and Marine Program, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, USA
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4
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Tavakoli-Kolour P, Sinniger F, Morita M, Harii S. Acclimation potential of Acropora to mesophotic environment. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 188:114698. [PMID: 36860026 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Mesophotic coral ecosystems may serve as a refuge for reef-building corals to survive the ongoing climate change. Distribution of coral species changes during larval dispersal. However, the acclimation potential in the early life stages of corals at different depths is unknown. This study investigated the acclimation potential of four shallow Acropora species at different depths via the transplantation of larvae and early polyps settled on tiles to 5, 10, 20, and 40 m depths. We then examined physiological parameters, such as size, survival, growth rate, and morphological characteristics. The survival and size of juveniles of A. tenuis and A. valida at 40 m depth were significantly higher than those at other depths. In contrast, A. digitifera and A. hyacinthus showed higher survival rates at shallow depths. The morphology (i.e., size of the corallites) also varied among the depths. Collectively, the shallow coral larvae and juveniles displayed substantial plasticity at depth.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Frederic Sinniger
- Sesoko Station, Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Masaya Morita
- Sesoko Station, Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Saki Harii
- Sesoko Station, Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.
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5
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Zhang J, Richards ZT, Adam AAS, Chan CX, Shinzato C, Gilmour J, Thomas L, Strugnell JM, Miller DJ, Cooke I. Evolutionary responses of a reef-building coral to climate change at the end of the last glacial maximum. Mol Biol Evol 2022; 39:msac201. [PMID: 36219871 PMCID: PMC9578555 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msac201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change threatens the survival of coral reefs on a global scale, primarily through mass bleaching and mortality as a result of marine heatwaves. While these short-term effects are clear, predicting the fate of coral reefs over the coming century is a major challenge. One way to understand the longer-term effects of rapid climate change is to examine the response of coral populations to past climate shifts. Coastal and shallow-water marine ecosystems such as coral reefs have been reshaped many times by sea-level changes during the Pleistocene, yet, few studies have directly linked this with its consequences on population demographics, dispersal, and adaptation. Here we use powerful analytical techniques, afforded by haplotype phased whole-genomes, to establish such links for the reef-building coral, Acropora digitifera. We show that three genetically distinct populations are present in northwestern Australia, and that their rapid divergence since the last glacial maximum (LGM) can be explained by a combination of founder-effects and restricted gene flow. Signatures of selective sweeps, too strong to be explained by demographic history, are present in all three populations and overlap with genes that show different patterns of functional enrichment between inshore and offshore habitats. In contrast to rapid divergence in the host, we find that photosymbiont communities are largely undifferentiated between corals from all three locations, spanning almost 1000 km, indicating that selection on host genes and not acquisition of novel symbionts, has been the primary driver of adaptation for this species in northwestern Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Zhang
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Zoe T Richards
- Coral Conservation and Research Group, Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
- Collections and Research, Western Australian Museum, 49 Kew Street Welshpool, WA 6106, Australia
| | - Arne A S Adam
- Coral Conservation and Research Group, Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
| | - Cheong Xin Chan
- The University of Queensland, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Chuya Shinzato
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo277-8564, Chiba, Japan
| | - James Gilmour
- Australia Institute of Marine Science, Indian Oceans Marine Research Centre, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Luke Thomas
- Australia Institute of Marine Science, Indian Oceans Marine Research Centre, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
- Oceans Graduate School, The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Jan M Strugnell
- Department of Marine Biology and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- Centre for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - David J Miller
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- Marine Climate Change Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Onna-son, Okinawa, Japan 904-0495
| | - Ira Cooke
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
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6
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Adam AAS, Thomas L, Underwood J, Gilmour J, Richards ZT. Population connectivity and genetic offset in the spawning coral Acropora digitifera in Western Australia. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:3533-3547. [PMID: 35567512 PMCID: PMC9328316 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Anthropogenic climate change has caused widespread loss of species biodiversity and ecosystem productivity across the globe, particularly on tropical coral reefs. Predicting the future vulnerability of reef-building corals, the foundation species of coral reef ecosystems, is crucial for cost-effective conservation planning in the Anthropocene. In this study, we combine regional population genetic connectivity and seascape analyses to explore patterns of genetic offset (the mismatch of gene-environmental associations under future climate conditions) in Acropora digitifera across 12 degrees of latitude in Western Australia. Our data revealed a pattern of restricted gene flow and limited genetic connectivity among geographically distant reef systems. Environmental association analyses identified a suite of loci strongly associated with the regional temperature variation. These loci helped forecast future genetic offset in gradient forest and generalised dissimilarity models. These analyses predicted pronounced differences in the response of different reef systems in Western Australia to rising temperatures. Under the most optimistic future warming scenario (RCP 2.6), we predicted a general pattern of increasing genetic offset with latitude. Under the extreme climate scenario (RCP 8.5 in 2090-2100), coral populations at the Ningaloo World Heritage Area were predicted to experience a higher mismatch between current allele frequencies and those required to cope with local environmental change, compared to populations in the inshore Kimberley region. The study suggests complex and spatially heterogeneous patterns of climate-change vulnerability in coral populations across Western Australia, reinforcing the notion that regionally tailored conservation efforts will be most effective at managing coral reef resilience into the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arne A S Adam
- Coral Conservation and Research Group, Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia.,Australian Institute of Marine Science, IOMRC, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia
| | - Luke Thomas
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, IOMRC, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia.,The UWA Oceans Institute, Oceans Graduate School, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia
| | - Jim Underwood
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, IOMRC, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia
| | - James Gilmour
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, IOMRC, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia
| | - Zoe T Richards
- Coral Conservation and Research Group, Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia.,Collections and Research, Western Australian Museum, Welshpool, Western Australia
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7
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Li M, Huang W, Wu Q, Feng Y, Chen Y, Yu K, Chen B, Yang E, Meng L, Huang X, Wang X. High genetic differentiation and moderate genetic diversity of the degenerative branching coral Pocillopora verrucosa in the tropical South China Sea. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 819:153076. [PMID: 35038534 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Global warming is causing rapid degradation of coral reefs, among which branching corals are degrading the fastest. An assessment of coral genetic diversity and adaptive potential provides a basis for coral reef protection. In this study, we selected the branching coral Pocillopora verrucosa, a widely distributed species in the tropical South China Sea (SCS), to carry out population genetic studies. To analyze the genetic diversity and structure of 319 P. verrucosa samples from 10 populations in 4 SCS regions, twelve pairs of microsatellite primers and two nuclear markers, ITS and β-tub, were selected. Microsatellite marker results showed moderate genetic diversity for P. verrucosa in the SCS, but relatively low diversity in Dazhou Island and Yongxing Island. The haplotype network showed that P. verrucosa in the SCS was derived from two ancestors, which may be linked to geographical isolation in the Pleistocene glacial period. AMOVA (ΦST = 0.3375) and FST pairwise analysis results based on β-tub showed that the populations were highly differentiated, with most FST values (21/45) > 0.25. Yongxing and Qilianyu Islands populations were significantly different from those in the Xisha area. Mantel test results showed that genetic differentiation among P. verrucosa populations was significantly and positively correlated with both mean sea surface temperature (SST) and SST variance, and was not correlated with distance, chlorophyll-a, or turbidity. The reproductive mode of brooding planulae was an important factor contributing to high genetic differentiation among populations. The moderate genetic diversity of SCS P. verrucosa indicates that this population has a certain genetic potential in the context of global changes, but the high genetic differentiation between populations increases the risk of local degradation or extinction. This study provides a theoretical basis for the protection and restoration of SCS coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Li
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Forestry College, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Wen Huang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China.
| | - Qian Wu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Yi Feng
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Yinmin Chen
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Kefu Yu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhuhai 519080, China.
| | - Biao Chen
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Enguang Yang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Linqing Meng
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Xueyong Huang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Gunagxi Key Lab of Mangrove Conservation and Utilization, Guangxi Mangrove Research Center, Beihai 536000, China
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8
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Gilmour JP, Cook KL, Ryan NM, Puotinen ML, Green RH, Heyward AJ. A tale of two reef systems: Local conditions, disturbances, coral life histories, and the climate catastrophe. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e2509. [PMID: 34870357 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Coral reefs have evolved over millennia to survive disturbances. Yet, in just a few decades chronic local pressures and the climate catastrophe have accelerated so quickly that most coral reefs are now threatened. Rising ocean temperatures and recurrent bleaching pose the biggest threat, affecting even remote and well-managed reefs on global scales. We illustrate how coral bleaching is altering reefs by contrasting the dynamics of adjacent reef systems over more than two decades. Both reef systems sit near the edge of northwest Australia's continental shelf, have escaped chronic local pressures and are regularly affected by tropical storms and cyclones. The Scott reef system has experienced multiple bleaching events, including mass bleaching in 1998 and 2016, from which it is unlikely to fully recover. The Rowley Shoals has maintained a high cover and diversity of corals and has not yet been impacted by mass bleaching. We show how the dynamics of both reef systems were driven by a combination of local environment, exposure to disturbances and coral life history traits, and consider future shifts in community structure with ongoing climate change. We then demonstrate how applying knowledge of community dynamics at local scales can aid management strategies to slow the degradation of coral reefs until carbon emissions and other human impacts are properly managed.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P Gilmour
- The Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
- Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Kylie L Cook
- The Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Nicole M Ryan
- The Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Marjetta L Puotinen
- The Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Rebecca H Green
- Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Andrew J Heyward
- The Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
- Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
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9
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Binley AD, Proctor CA, Pither R, Davis SA, Bennett JR. The unrealized potential of community science to support research on the resilience of protected areas. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sierra A. Davis
- Department of Biology Carleton University Ottawa Ontario Canada
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10
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Whitney JL, Gove JM, McManus MA, Smith KA, Lecky J, Neubauer P, Phipps JE, Contreras EA, Kobayashi DR, Asner GP. Surface slicks are pelagic nurseries for diverse ocean fauna. Sci Rep 2021; 11:3197. [PMID: 33542255 PMCID: PMC7862242 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81407-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Most marine animals have a pelagic larval phase that develops in the coastal or open ocean. The fate of larvae has profound effects on replenishment of marine populations that are critical for human and ecosystem health. Larval ecology is expected to be tightly coupled to oceanic features, but for most taxa we know little about the interactions between larvae and the pelagic environment. Here, we provide evidence that surface slicks, a common coastal convergence feature, provide nursery habitat for diverse marine larvae, including > 100 species of commercially and ecologically important fishes. The vast majority of invertebrate and larval fish taxa sampled had mean densities 2-110 times higher in slicks than in ambient water. Combining in-situ surveys with remote sensing, we estimate that slicks contain 39% of neustonic larval fishes, 26% of surface-dwelling zooplankton (prey), and 75% of floating organic debris (shelter) in our 1000 km2 study area in Hawai'i. Results indicate late-larval fishes actively select slick habitats to capitalize on concentrations of diverse prey and shelter. By providing these survival advantages, surface slicks enhance larval supply and replenishment of adult populations from coral reef, epipelagic, and deep-water ecosystems. Our findings suggest that slicks play a critically important role in enhancing productivity in tropical marine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan L. Whitney
- grid.410445.00000 0001 2188 0957Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA ,grid.3532.70000 0001 1266 2261Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Honolulu, HI 96818 USA ,grid.410445.00000 0001 2188 0957Department of Oceanography, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA
| | - Jamison M. Gove
- grid.3532.70000 0001 1266 2261Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Honolulu, HI 96818 USA
| | - Margaret A. McManus
- grid.410445.00000 0001 2188 0957Department of Oceanography, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA
| | - Katharine A. Smith
- grid.410445.00000 0001 2188 0957Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA ,grid.410445.00000 0001 2188 0957Department of Oceanography, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA
| | - Joey Lecky
- grid.3532.70000 0001 1266 2261Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Honolulu, HI 96818 USA ,Lynker Technologies LLC, Marine, Ocean, and Coastal Science and Information Group, Leesburg, VA 20175 USA
| | - Philipp Neubauer
- grid.507875.8Dragonfly Data Science, 158 Victoria St, Level 4, Te Aro, Wellington, 6011 New Zealand
| | - Jana E. Phipps
- grid.410445.00000 0001 2188 0957Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA ,grid.3532.70000 0001 1266 2261Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Honolulu, HI 96818 USA
| | - Emily A. Contreras
- grid.410445.00000 0001 2188 0957Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA ,grid.3532.70000 0001 1266 2261Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Honolulu, HI 96818 USA
| | - Donald R. Kobayashi
- grid.3532.70000 0001 1266 2261Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Honolulu, HI 96818 USA
| | - Gregory P. Asner
- grid.215654.10000 0001 2151 2636Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281 USA
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11
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Population genetics of the brooding coral Seriatopora hystrix reveals patterns of strong genetic differentiation in the Western Indian Ocean. Heredity (Edinb) 2020; 126:351-365. [PMID: 33122855 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-020-00379-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs provide essential goods and services but are degrading at an alarming rate due to local and global anthropogenic stressors. The main limitation that prevents the implementation of adequate conservation measures is that connectivity and genetic structure of populations are poorly known. Here, the genetic diversity and connectivity of the brooding scleractinian coral Seriatopora hystrix were assessed at two scales by genotyping ten microsatellite markers for 356 individual colonies. S. hystrix showed high differentiation, both at large scale between the Red Sea and the Western Indian Ocean (WIO), and at smaller scale along the coast of East Africa. As such high levels of differentiation might indicate the presence of more than one species, a haploweb analysis was conducted with the nuclear marker ITS2, confirming that the Red Sea populations are genetically distinct from the WIO ones. Based on microsatellite analyses three groups could be distinguished within the WIO: (1) northern Madagascar, (2) south-west Madagascar together with one site in northern Mozambique (Nacala) and (3) all other sites in northern Mozambique, Tanzania and Kenya. These patterns of restricted connectivity could be explained by the short pelagic larval duration of S. hystrix, and/or by oceanographic factors, such as eddies in the Mozambique Channel (causing larval retention in northern Madagascar but facilitating dispersal from northern Mozambique towards south-west Madagascar). This study provides an additional line of evidence supporting the conservation priority status of the Northern Mozambique Channel and should inform coral reef management decisions in the region.
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12
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Underwood JN, Richards Z, Berry O, Oades D, Howard A, Gilmour JP. Extreme seascape drives local recruitment and genetic divergence in brooding and spawning corals in remote north-west Australia. Evol Appl 2020; 13:2404-2421. [PMID: 33005230 PMCID: PMC7513722 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Management strategies designed to conserve coral reefs threatened by climate change need to incorporate knowledge of the spatial distribution of inter- and intra-specific genetic diversity. We characterized patterns of genetic diversity and connectivity using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in two reef-building corals to explore the eco-evolutionary processes that sustain populations in north-west Australia. Our sampling focused on the unique reefs of the Kimberley; we collected the broadcast spawning coral Acropora aspera (n = 534) and the brooding coral Isopora brueggemanni (n = 612) across inter-archipelago (tens to hundreds of kilometres), inter-reef (kilometres to tens of kilometres) and within-reef (tens of metres to a few kilometres) scales. Initial analysis of A. aspera identified four highly divergent lineages that were co-occurring but morphologically similar. Subsequent population analyses focused on the most abundant and widespread lineage, Acropora asp-c. Although the overall level of geographic subdivision was greater in the brooder than in the spawner, fundamental similarities in patterns of genetic structure were evident. Most notably, limits to gene flow were observed at scales <35 kilometres. Further, we observed four discrete clusters and a semi-permeable barrier to dispersal that were geographically consistent between species. Finally, sites experiencing bigger tides were more connected to the metapopulation and had greater gene diversity than those experiencing smaller tides. Our data indicate that the inshore reefs of the Kimberley are genetically isolated from neighbouring oceanic bioregions, but occasional dispersal between inshore archipelagos is important for the redistribution of evolutionarily important genetic diversity. Additionally, these results suggest that networks of marine reserves that effectively protect reefs from local pressures should be spaced within a few tens of kilometres to conserve the existing patterns of demographic and genetic connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jim N Underwood
- Australian Institute of Marine Science Indian Oceans Marine Research Centre, Crawley Perth WA Australia
- Western Australian Marine Science Institution Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre Crawley WA Australia
| | - Zoe Richards
- Western Australian Marine Science Institution Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre Crawley WA Australia
- Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory School of Molecular and Life Sciences Curtin University Bentley WA Australia
- Department of Aquatic Zoology Western Australian Museum Welshpool WA Australia
| | - Oliver Berry
- Western Australian Marine Science Institution Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre Crawley WA Australia
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Indian Oceans Marine Research Centre, Crawley Perth WA Australia
| | - Daniel Oades
- Bardi Jawi Rangers Kimberley Land Council Broome WA Australia
| | - Azton Howard
- Bardi Jawi Rangers Kimberley Land Council Broome WA Australia
| | - James P Gilmour
- Australian Institute of Marine Science Indian Oceans Marine Research Centre, Crawley Perth WA Australia
- Western Australian Marine Science Institution Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre Crawley WA Australia
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13
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De Wit P, Jonsson PR, Pereyra RT, Panova M, André C, Johannesson K. Spatial genetic structure in a crustacean herbivore highlights the need for local considerations in Baltic Sea biodiversity management. Evol Appl 2020; 13:974-990. [PMID: 32431747 PMCID: PMC7232771 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Incorporating species' eco-evolutionary responses to human-caused disturbances remains a challenge in marine management efforts. A prerequisite is knowledge of geographic structure and scale of genetic diversity and connectivity-the so-called seascape genetic patterns. The Baltic Sea is an excellent model system for studies linking seascape genetics with effects of anthropogenic stress. However, seascape genetic patterns in this area are only described for a few species and are completely unknown for invertebrate herbivores, which constitute a critical part of the ecosystem. This information is crucial for sustainable management, particularly under future scenarios of rapid environmental change. Here, we investigate the population genetic structure among 31 locations throughout the Baltic Sea, of which 45% were located in marine protected areas, in one of the most important herbivores of this region, the isopod crustacean Idotea balthica, using an array of 33,774 genome-wide SNP markers derived from 2b-RAD sequencing. In addition, we generate a biophysical connectivity matrix for I. balthica from a combination of oceanographic current models and estimated life history traits. We find population structure on scales of hundreds of kilometers across the Baltic Sea, where genomic patterns in most cases closely match biophysical connectivity, indicating passive transport with oceanographic currents as an important mean of dispersal in this species. We also find a reduced genetic diversity in terms of heterozygosity along the main salinity gradient of the Baltic Sea, suggesting periods of low population size. Our results provide crucial information for the management of a key ecosystem species under expected changes in temperature and salinity following global climate change in a marine coastal area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre De Wit
- Department of Marine SciencesUniversity of GothenburgTjärnöSweden
| | - Per R. Jonsson
- Department of Marine SciencesUniversity of GothenburgTjärnöSweden
- Environmental and Marine BiologyÅbo Akademi UniversityTurkuFinland
| | | | - Marina Panova
- Department of Marine SciencesUniversity of GothenburgTjärnöSweden
| | - Carl André
- Department of Marine SciencesUniversity of GothenburgTjärnöSweden
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14
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Dubé CE, Boissin E, Mercière A, Planes S. Parentage analyses identify local dispersal events and sibling aggregations in a natural population of Millepora hydrocorals, a free-spawning marine invertebrate. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:1508-1522. [PMID: 32227655 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Dispersal is a critical process for the persistence and productivity of marine populations. For many reef species, there is increasing evidence that local demography and self-recruitment have major consequences on their genetic diversity and adaptation to environmental change. Yet empirical data of dispersal patterns in reef-building species remain scarce. Here, we document the first genetic estimates of self-recruitment and dispersal distances in a free-spawning marine invertebrate, the hydrocoral Millepora cf. platyphylla. Using twelve microsatellite markers, we gathered genotypic information from 3,160 georeferenced colonies collected over 27,000 m2 of a single reef in three adjacent habitats in Moorea, French Polynesia; the mid slope, upper slope, and back reef. Although the adult population was predominantly clonal (85% were clones), our parentage analysis revealed a moderate self-recruitment rate with a minimum of 8% of sexual propagules produced locally. Assigned offspring often settled at <10 m from their parents and dispersal events decrease with increasing geographic distance. There were no discrepancies between the dispersal distances of offspring assigned to parents belonging to clonal versus nonclonal genotypes. Interhabitat dispersal events via cross-reef transport were also detected for sexual and asexual propagules. Sibship analysis showed that full siblings recruit nearby on the reef (more than 40% settled at <30 m), resulting in sibling aggregations. Our findings highlight the importance of self-recruitment together with clonality in stabilizing population dynamics, which may ultimately enhance local sustainability and resilience to disturbance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline E Dubé
- PSL Research University: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan Cedex, France.,Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", Papetoai, Moorea, French Polynesia
| | - Emilie Boissin
- PSL Research University: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan Cedex, France.,Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", Papetoai, Moorea, French Polynesia
| | - Alexandre Mercière
- PSL Research University: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan Cedex, France.,Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", Papetoai, Moorea, French Polynesia
| | - Serge Planes
- PSL Research University: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan Cedex, France.,Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL", Papetoai, Moorea, French Polynesia
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15
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Taninaka H, Bernardo LPC, Saito Y, Nagai S, Ueno M, Kitano YF, Nakamura T, Yasuda N. Limited fine-scale larval dispersal of the threatened brooding corals Heliopora spp. as evidenced by population genetics and numerical simulation. CONSERV GENET 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-019-01228-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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16
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Quigley KM, Bay LK, van Oppen MJH. The active spread of adaptive variation for reef resilience. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:11122-11135. [PMID: 31641460 PMCID: PMC6802068 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Revised: 08/03/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The speed at which species adapt depends partly on the rates of beneficial adaptation generation and how quickly they spread within and among populations. Natural rates of adaptation of corals may not be able to keep pace with climate warming. Several interventions have been proposed to fast-track thermal adaptation, including the intentional translocation of warm-adapted adults or their offspring (assisted gene flow, AGF) and the ex situ crossing of warm-adapted corals with conspecifics from cooler reefs (hybridization or selective breeding) and field deployment of those offspring. The introgression of temperature tolerance loci into the genomic background of cooler-environment corals aims to facilitate adaptation to warming while maintaining fitness under local conditions. Here we use research on selective sweeps and connectivity to understand the spread of adaptive variants as it applies to AGF on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), focusing on the genus Acropora. Using larval biophysical dispersal modeling, we estimate levels of natural connectivity in warm-adapted northern corals. We then model the spread of adaptive variants from single and multiple reefs and assess if the natural and assisted spread of adaptive variants will occur fast enough to prepare receiving central and southern populations given current rates of warming. We also estimate fixation rates and spatial extent of fixation under multiple release scenarios to inform intervention design. Our results suggest that thermal tolerance is unlikely to spread beyond northern reefs to the central and southern GBR without intervention, and if it does, 30+ generations are needed for adaptive gene variants to reach fixation even under multiple release scenarios. We argue that if translocation, breeding, and reseeding risks are managed, AGF using multiple release reefs can be beneficial for the restoration of coral populations. These interventions should be considered in addition to conventional management and accompanied by strong mitigation of CO2 emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate M. Quigley
- Australian Institute of Marine ScienceTownsvilleQldAustralia
| | - Line K. Bay
- Australian Institute of Marine ScienceTownsvilleQldAustralia
| | - Madeleine J. H. van Oppen
- Australian Institute of Marine ScienceTownsvilleQldAustralia
- School of BioSciencesThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVic.Australia
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17
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Hock K, Doropoulos C, Gorton R, Condie SA, Mumby PJ. Split spawning increases robustness of coral larval supply and inter-reef connectivity. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3463. [PMID: 31371712 PMCID: PMC6671964 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11367-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Many habitat-building corals undergo mass synchronous spawning events. Yet, despite the enormous amounts of larvae produced, larval dispersal from a single spawning event and the reliability of larval supply are highly dependent on vagaries of ocean currents. However, colonies from the same population will occasionally spawn over successive months. These split spawning events likely help to realign reproduction events to favourable environmental conditions. Here, we show that split spawning may benefit corals by increasing the reliability of larval supply. By modelling the dispersal of coral larvae across Australia's Great Barrier Reef, we find that split spawning increased the diversity of sources and reliability of larval supply the reefs could receive, especially in regions with low and intrinsically variable connectivity. Such increased larval supply might help counteract the expected declines in reproductive success associated with split spawning events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karlo Hock
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, St Lucia, 4067, Australia. .,ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, St Lucia, 4067, Australia.
| | - Christopher Doropoulos
- Oceans & Atmosphere, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, St Lucia, 4067, Australia
| | - Rebecca Gorton
- Oceans & Atmosphere, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Hobart, 7000, Australia
| | - Scott A Condie
- Oceans & Atmosphere, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Hobart, 7000, Australia
| | - Peter J Mumby
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, St Lucia, 4067, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, St Lucia, 4067, Australia
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18
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Hughes TP, Kerry JT, Baird AH, Connolly SR, Chase TJ, Dietzel A, Hill T, Hoey AS, Hoogenboom MO, Jacobson M, Kerswell A, Madin JS, Mieog A, Paley AS, Pratchett MS, Torda G, Woods RM. Global warming impairs stock-recruitment dynamics of corals. Nature 2019; 568:387-390. [PMID: 30944475 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1081-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Changes in disturbance regimes due to climate change are increasingly challenging the capacity of ecosystems to absorb recurrent shocks and reassemble afterwards, escalating the risk of widespread ecological collapse of current ecosystems and the emergence of novel assemblages1-3. In marine systems, the production of larvae and recruitment of functionally important species are fundamental processes for rebuilding depleted adult populations, maintaining resilience and avoiding regime shifts in the face of rising environmental pressures4,5. Here we document a regional-scale shift in stock-recruitment relationships of corals along the Great Barrier Reef-the world's largest coral reef system-following unprecedented back-to-back mass bleaching events caused by global warming. As a consequence of mass mortality of adult brood stock in 2016 and 2017 owing to heat stress6, the amount of larval recruitment declined in 2018 by 89% compared to historical levels. For the first time, brooding pocilloporids replaced spawning acroporids as the dominant taxon in the depleted recruitment pool. The collapse in stock-recruitment relationships indicates that the low resistance of adult brood stocks to repeated episodes of coral bleaching is inexorably tied to an impaired capacity for recovery, which highlights the multifaceted processes that underlie the global decline of coral reefs. The extent to which the Great Barrier Reef will be able to recover from the collapse in stock-recruitment relationships remains uncertain, given the projected increased frequency of extreme climate events over the next two decades7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terry P Hughes
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
| | - James T Kerry
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andrew H Baird
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sean R Connolly
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Tory J Chase
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andreas Dietzel
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Tessa Hill
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andrew S Hoey
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mia O Hoogenboom
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mizue Jacobson
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Joshua S Madin
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i, Kaneohe, HI, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Abbie Mieog
- Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Canberra City, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Allison S Paley
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Morgan S Pratchett
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Gergely Torda
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Rachael M Woods
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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19
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Underwood JN, Travers MJ, Snow M, Puotinen M, Gouws G. Cryptic lineages in the Wolf Cardinalfish living in sympatry on remote coral atolls. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2018; 132:183-193. [PMID: 30528081 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Revised: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Coral reef health and biodiversity is under threat worldwide due to rapid climate change. However, much of the inter- and intra-specific diversity of coral reefs are undescribed even in well studied taxa such as fish. Delimiting previously unrecognised diversity is important for understanding the processes that generate and sustain biodiversity in coral reef ecosystems and informing strategies for their conservation and management. Many taxa that inhabit geographically isolated coral reefs rely on self-recruitment for population persistence, providing the opportunity for the evolution of unique genetic lineages through divergent selection and reproductive isolation. Many such lineages in corals and fish are morphologically similar or indistinguishable. Here, we report the discovery and characterisation of cryptic lineages of the Wolf Cardinalfish, Cheilodipterus artus, from the coral atolls of northwest Australia using multiple molecular markers from mitochondrial (CO1 and D-loop) and nuclear (microsatellites) DNA. Concordant results from all markers identified two highly divergent lineages that are morphologically cryptic and reproductively isolated. These lineages co-occurred at daytime resting sites, but the relative abundance of each lineage was strongly correlated with wave exposure. It appears, therefore, that fish from each lineage are better adapted to different microhabitats. Such cryptic and ecologically based diversity appears to be common in these atolls and may well aid resilience of these systems. Our results also highlight that underwater surveys based on visual identification clearly underestimate biodiversity, and that a taxonomic revision of the Cheilodipterus genus is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jim N Underwood
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Oceans Marine Research Centre, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
| | - Michael J Travers
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Oceans Marine Research Centre, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; Western Australian Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Government of Western Australia, PO Box 20, North Beach, Western Australia 6920, Australia
| | - Michael Snow
- Western Australian Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Government of Western Australia, PO Box 20, North Beach, Western Australia 6920, Australia
| | - Marji Puotinen
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Oceans Marine Research Centre, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Gavin Gouws
- National Research Foundation - South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Private Bag 1015, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa
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20
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Underwood JN, Richards ZT, Miller KJ, Puotinen ML, Gilmour JP. Genetic signatures through space, time and multiple disturbances in a ubiquitous brooding coral. Mol Ecol 2018; 27:1586-1602. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.14559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Revised: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jim N. Underwood
- Indian Oceans Marine Research Centre Australian Institute of Marine Science Crawley WA Australia
| | - Zoe T. Richards
- Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory School of Molecular and Life Sciences Curtin University Bentley WA Australia
- Department of Aquatic Zoology Western Australian Museum Perth WA Australia
| | - Karen J. Miller
- Indian Oceans Marine Research Centre Australian Institute of Marine Science Crawley WA Australia
| | - Marji L. Puotinen
- Indian Oceans Marine Research Centre Australian Institute of Marine Science Crawley WA Australia
| | - James P. Gilmour
- Indian Oceans Marine Research Centre Australian Institute of Marine Science Crawley WA Australia
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21
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Zinke J, Gilmour JP, Fisher R, Puotinen M, Maina J, Darling E, Stat M, Richards ZT, McClanahan TR, Beger M, Moore C, Graham NAJ, Feng M, Hobbs JPA, Evans SN, Field S, Shedrawi G, Babcock RC, Wilson SK. Gradients of disturbance and environmental conditions shape coral community structure for south-eastern Indian Ocean reefs. DIVERS DISTRIB 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jens Zinke
- Section Paleontology; Freie Universität Berlin; Berlin Germany
- UWA Oceans Institute; Australian Institute of Marine Science; Crawley WA Australia
- Department of Environment and Agriculture; Curtin University of Technology; Bentley WA Australia
- UWA Oceans Institute; University of Western Australia; Crawley WA Australia
| | - James P. Gilmour
- UWA Oceans Institute; Australian Institute of Marine Science; Crawley WA Australia
- UWA Oceans Institute; University of Western Australia; Crawley WA Australia
| | - Rebecca Fisher
- UWA Oceans Institute; Australian Institute of Marine Science; Crawley WA Australia
- UWA Oceans Institute; University of Western Australia; Crawley WA Australia
| | - Marji Puotinen
- UWA Oceans Institute; Australian Institute of Marine Science; Crawley WA Australia
- UWA Oceans Institute; University of Western Australia; Crawley WA Australia
| | - Joseph Maina
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions; School of Biological Sciences; The University of Queensland; Brisbane Qld Australia
- Department of Environmental Sciences; Macquarie University; Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Emily Darling
- Wildlife Conservation Society; Marine Programs; Bronx NY USA
- Department of Biology; The University of North Carolina; Chapel Hill NC USA
| | - Michael Stat
- Department of Environment and Agriculture; Curtin University of Technology; Bentley WA Australia
| | - Zoe T. Richards
- Department of Environment and Agriculture; Curtin University of Technology; Bentley WA Australia
- Department of Aquatic Zoology; Western Australian Museum; Welshpool WA Australia
| | | | - Maria Beger
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions; School of Biological Sciences; The University of Queensland; Brisbane Qld Australia
- School of Biology; Faculty of Biological Sciences; University of Leeds; Leeds UK
| | - Cordelia Moore
- UWA Oceans Institute; Australian Institute of Marine Science; Crawley WA Australia
- Department of Environment and Agriculture; Curtin University of Technology; Bentley WA Australia
| | - Nicholas A. J. Graham
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies; James Cook University; Townsville Qld Australia
- Lancaster Environment Centre; Lancaster University; Lancaster UK
| | - Ming Feng
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere; Floreat WA Australia
| | - Jean-Paul A. Hobbs
- Department of Environment and Agriculture; Curtin University of Technology; Bentley WA Australia
| | - Scott N. Evans
- Western Australian Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories; Department of Fisheries; Government of Western Australia; North Beach WA Australia
| | - Stuart Field
- Section Paleontology; Freie Universität Berlin; Berlin Germany
- Department of Parks and Wildlife; Perth WA Australia
| | | | | | - Shaun K. Wilson
- UWA Oceans Institute; University of Western Australia; Crawley WA Australia
- Department of Parks and Wildlife; Perth WA Australia
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22
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Rippe JP, Matz MV, Green EA, Medina M, Khawaja NZ, Pongwarin T, Pinzón C JH, Castillo KD, Davies SW. Population structure and connectivity of the mountainous star coral, Orbicella faveolata, throughout the wider Caribbean region. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:9234-9246. [PMID: 29187964 PMCID: PMC5696396 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Revised: 07/22/2017] [Accepted: 08/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
As coral reefs continue to decline worldwide, it becomes ever more necessary to understand the connectivity between coral populations to develop efficient management strategies facilitating survival and adaptation of coral reefs in the future. Orbicella faveolata is one of the most important reef-building corals in the Caribbean and has recently experienced severe population reductions. Here, we utilize a panel of nine microsatellite loci to evaluate the genetic structure of O. faveolata and to infer connectivity across ten sites spanning the wider Caribbean region. Populations are generally well-mixed throughout the basin (FST = 0.038), although notable patterns of substructure arise at local and regional scales. Eastern and western populations appear segregated with a genetic break around the Mona Passage in the north, as has been shown previously in other species; however, we find evidence for significant connectivity between Curaçao and Mexico, suggesting that the southern margin of this barrier is permeable to dispersal. Our results also identify a strong genetic break within the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System associated with complex oceanographic patterns that promote larval retention in southern Belize. Additionally, the diverse genetic signature at Flower Garden Banks suggests its possible function as a downstream genetic sink. The findings reported here are relevant to the ongoing conservation efforts for this important and threatened species, and contribute to the growing understanding of large-scale coral reef connectivity throughout the wider Caribbean.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P Rippe
- Department of Marine Sciences University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill NC USA
| | - Mikhail V Matz
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Texas at Austin Austin TX USA
| | - Elizabeth A Green
- Quantitative and Systems Biology University of California Merced CA USA
| | - Mónica Medina
- Department of Biology Pennsylvania State University University Park PA USA.,Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Smithsonian Institution Washington DC USA
| | - Nida Z Khawaja
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Texas at Austin Austin TX USA
| | - Thanapat Pongwarin
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Texas at Austin Austin TX USA
| | - Jorge H Pinzón C
- Department of Molecular Biology University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas TX USA
| | - Karl D Castillo
- Department of Marine Sciences University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill NC USA
| | - Sarah W Davies
- Department of Marine Sciences University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill NC USA.,Department of Integrative Biology University of Texas at Austin Austin TX USA.,Department of Biology Boston University Boston MA USA
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Barley SC, Meekan MG, Meeuwig JJ. Diet and condition of mesopredators on coral reefs in relation to shark abundance. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0165113. [PMID: 28422965 PMCID: PMC5396851 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Reef sharks may influence the foraging behaviour of mesopredatory teleosts on coral reefs via both risk effects and competitive exclusion. We used a "natural experiment" to test the hypothesis that the loss of sharks on coral reefs can influence the diet and body condition of mesopredatory fishes by comparing two remote, atoll-like reef systems, the Rowley Shoals and the Scott Reefs, in northwestern Australia. The Rowley Shoals are a marine reserve where sharks are abundant, whereas at the Scott Reefs numbers of sharks have been reduced by centuries of targeted fishing. On reefs where sharks were rare, the gut contents of five species of mesopredatory teleosts largely contained fish while on reefs with abundant sharks, the same mesopredatory species consumed a larger proportion of benthic invertebrates. These measures of diet were correlated with changes in body condition, such that the condition of mesopredatory teleosts was significantly poorer on reefs with higher shark abundance. Condition was defined as body weight, height and width for a given length and also estimated via several indices of condition. Due to the nature of natural experiments, alternative explanations cannot be discounted. However, the results were consistent with the hypothesis that loss of sharks may influence the diet and condition of mesopredators and by association, their fecundity and trophic role. Regardless of the mechanism (risk effects, competitive release, or other), our findings suggest that overfishing of sharks has the potential to trigger trophic cascades on coral reefs and that further declines in shark populations globally should be prevented to protect ecosystem health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanta C. Barley
- School of Animal Biology and the Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, The Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Mark G. Meekan
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, The Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Jessica J. Meeuwig
- School of Animal Biology and the Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Perth, Australia
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24
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Everett MV, Park LK, Berntson EA, Elz AE, Whitmire CE, Keller AA, Clarke ME. Large-Scale Genotyping-by-Sequencing Indicates High Levels of Gene Flow in the Deep-Sea Octocoral Swiftia simplex (Nutting 1909) on the West Coast of the United States. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0165279. [PMID: 27798660 PMCID: PMC5087884 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Deep-sea corals are a critical component of habitat in the deep-sea, existing as regional hotspots for biodiversity, and are associated with increased assemblages of fish, including commercially important species. Because sampling these species is so difficult, little is known about the connectivity and life history of deep-sea octocoral populations. This study evaluates the genetic connectivity among 23 individuals of the deep-sea octocoral Swiftia simplex collected from Eastern Pacific waters along the west coast of the United States. We utilized high-throughput restriction-site associated DNA (RAD)-tag sequencing to develop the first molecular genetic resource for the deep-sea octocoral, Swiftia simplex. Using this technique we discovered thousands of putative genome-wide SNPs in this species, and after quality control, successfully genotyped 1,145 SNPs across individuals sampled from California to Washington. These SNPs were used to assess putative population structure across the region. A STRUCTURE analysis as well as a principal coordinates analysis both failed to detect any population differentiation across all geographic areas in these collections. Additionally, after assigning individuals to putative population groups geographically, no significant FST values could be detected (FST for the full data set 0.0056), and no significant isolation by distance could be detected (p = 0.999). Taken together, these results indicate a high degree of connectivity and potential panmixia in S. simplex along this portion of the continental shelf.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith V Everett
- National Research Council, under contract to Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Linda K Park
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Ewann A Berntson
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Anna E Elz
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Curt E Whitmire
- Fishery Resource Analysis and Monitoring Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Aimee A Keller
- Fishery Resource Analysis and Monitoring Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - M Elizabeth Clarke
- Office of the Science Director, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
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25
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Quigley KM, Willis BL, Bay LK. Maternal effects and Symbiodinium community composition drive differential patterns in juvenile survival in the coral Acropora tenuis. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2016; 3:160471. [PMID: 27853562 PMCID: PMC5098987 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Coral endosymbionts in the dinoflagellate genus Symbiodinium are known to impact host physiology and have led to the evolution of reef-building, but less is known about how symbiotic communities in early life-history stages and their interactions with host parental identity shape the structure of coral communities on reefs. Differentiating the roles of environmental and biological factors driving variation in population demographic processes, particularly larval settlement, early juvenile survival and the onset of symbiosis is key to understanding how coral communities are structured and to predicting how they are likely to respond to climate change. We show that maternal effects (that here include genetic and/or effects related to the maternal environment) can explain nearly 24% of variation in larval settlement success and 5-17% of variation in juvenile survival in an experimental study of the reef-building scleractinian coral, Acropora tenuis. After 25 days on the reef, Symbiodinium communities associated with juvenile corals differed significantly between high mortality and low mortality families based on estimates of taxonomic richness, composition and relative abundance of taxa. Our results highlight that maternal and familial effects significantly explain variation in juvenile survival and symbiont communities in a broadcast-spawning coral, with Symbiodinium type A3 possibly a critical symbiotic partner during this early life stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate M. Quigley
- College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
- AIMS@JCU, Australian Institute of Marine Science and James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Bette L. Willis
- College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
- AIMS@JCU, Australian Institute of Marine Science and James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Line K. Bay
- AIMS@JCU, Australian Institute of Marine Science and James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia
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26
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Quigley KM, Willis BL, Bay LK. Maternal effects and Symbiodinium community composition drive differential patterns in juvenile survival in the coral Acropora tenuis. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2016. [PMID: 27853562 DOI: 10.5061/dryad.8b5g6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Coral endosymbionts in the dinoflagellate genus Symbiodinium are known to impact host physiology and have led to the evolution of reef-building, but less is known about how symbiotic communities in early life-history stages and their interactions with host parental identity shape the structure of coral communities on reefs. Differentiating the roles of environmental and biological factors driving variation in population demographic processes, particularly larval settlement, early juvenile survival and the onset of symbiosis is key to understanding how coral communities are structured and to predicting how they are likely to respond to climate change. We show that maternal effects (that here include genetic and/or effects related to the maternal environment) can explain nearly 24% of variation in larval settlement success and 5-17% of variation in juvenile survival in an experimental study of the reef-building scleractinian coral, Acropora tenuis. After 25 days on the reef, Symbiodinium communities associated with juvenile corals differed significantly between high mortality and low mortality families based on estimates of taxonomic richness, composition and relative abundance of taxa. Our results highlight that maternal and familial effects significantly explain variation in juvenile survival and symbiont communities in a broadcast-spawning coral, with Symbiodinium type A3 possibly a critical symbiotic partner during this early life stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate M Quigley
- College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia; AIMS@JCU, Australian Institute of Marine Science and James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Bette L Willis
- College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia; AIMS@JCU, Australian Institute of Marine Science and James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Line K Bay
- AIMS@JCU, Australian Institute of Marine Science and James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia; Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia
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27
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Lukoschek V, Riginos C, van Oppen MJH. Congruent patterns of connectivity can inform management for broadcast spawning corals on the Great Barrier Reef. Mol Ecol 2016; 25:3065-80. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.13649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2015] [Revised: 03/18/2016] [Accepted: 04/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vimoksalehi Lukoschek
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies; James Cook University; Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
| | - Cynthia Riginos
- School of Biological Sciences; The University of Queensland; St. Lucia Qld 4072 Australia
| | - Madeleine J. H. van Oppen
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies; James Cook University; Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science; PMB 3; Townsville Mail Centre; Townsville Qld 4810 Australia
- School of BioSciences; The University of Melbourne; Parkville Vic. 3010 Australia
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28
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Allen CR, Angeler DG, Cumming GS, Folke C, Twidwell D, Uden DR. Quantifying spatial resilience. J Appl Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Craig R. Allen
- U.S. Geological Survey; Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit; School of Natural Resources; University of Nebraska - Lincoln; Lincoln NE USA
| | - David G. Angeler
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment; Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; PO Box 7050 SE - 750 07 Uppsala Sweden
| | - Graeme S. Cumming
- Percy FitzPatrick Institute; DST/NRF Centre of Excellence; University of Cape Town; Rondebosch Cape Town 7701 South Africa
| | - Carl Folke
- Stockholm Resilience Centre; Stockholm University; 106 91 Stockholm Sweden
- Beijer Institute; Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences; Stockholm Sweden
| | - Dirac Twidwell
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture; University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Lincoln Nebraska 68503-0984 USA
| | - Daniel R. Uden
- Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit; School of Natural Resources; University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Lincoln Nebraska 68503-0984 USA
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29
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Nakajima Y, Zayasu Y, Shinzato C, Satoh N, Mitarai S. Genetic differentiation and connectivity of morphological types of the broadcast-spawning coral Galaxea fascicularis in the Nansei Islands, Japan. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:1457-69. [PMID: 27087925 PMCID: PMC4775516 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2015] [Revised: 12/25/2015] [Accepted: 01/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Population connectivity resulting from larval dispersal is essential for the maintenance or recovery of populations in marine ecosystems, including coral reefs. Studies of species diversity and genetic connectivity within species are essential for the conservation of corals and coral reef ecosystems. We analyzed mitochondrial DNA sequence types and microsatellite genotypes of the broadcast‐spawning coral, Galaxea fascicularis, from four regions in the subtropical Nansei Islands in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. Two types (soft and hard types) of nematocyst morphology are known in G. fascicularis and are significantly correlated with the length of a mitochondrial DNA noncoding sequence (soft type: mt‐L; hard type: mt‐S type). Using microsatellites, significant genetic differentiation was detected between the mitochondrial DNA sequence types in all regions. We also found a third genetic cluster (mt‐L+), and this unexpected type may be a cryptic species of Galaxea. High clonal diversity was detected in both mt‐L and mt‐S types. Significant genetic differentiation, which was found among regions within a given type (FST = 0.009–0.024, all Ps ≤ 0.005 in mt‐L; 0.009–0.032, all Ps ≤ 0.01 in mt‐S), may result from the shorter larval development than in other broadcast‐spawning corals, such as the genus Acropora. Nevertheless, intraspecific genetic diversity and connectivity have been maintained, and with both sexual and asexual reproduction, this species appears to have a potential for the recovery of populations after disturbance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuichi Nakajima
- Marine Biophysics Unit Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University 1919-1 Tancha Onna Okinawa 904-0495 Japan
| | - Yuna Zayasu
- Marine Genomics Unit Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University 1919-1 Tancha Onna Okinawa 904-0495 Japan
| | - Chuya Shinzato
- Marine Genomics Unit Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University 1919-1 Tancha Onna Okinawa 904-0495 Japan
| | - Noriyuki Satoh
- Marine Genomics Unit Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University 1919-1 Tancha Onna Okinawa 904-0495 Japan
| | - Satoshi Mitarai
- Marine Biophysics Unit Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University 1919-1 Tancha Onna Okinawa 904-0495 Japan
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30
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Cryptic genetic divergence within threatened species of Acropora coral from the Indian and Pacific Oceans. CONSERV GENET 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-015-0807-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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31
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Warner PA, van Oppen MJH, Willis BL. Unexpected cryptic species diversity in the widespread coralSeriatopora hystrixmasks spatial-genetic patterns of connectivity. Mol Ecol 2015; 24:2993-3008. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.13225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2015] [Revised: 04/25/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia A. Warner
- AIMS@JCU; Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies; James Cook University; Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
- College of Marine and Environmental Sciences; James Cook University; Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
| | - Madeleine J. H. van Oppen
- AIMS@JCU; Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies; James Cook University; Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science; PMB3, Townsville MC; Townsville Qld 4810 Australia
| | - Bette L. Willis
- AIMS@JCU; Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies; James Cook University; Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
- College of Marine and Environmental Sciences; James Cook University; Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
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32
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Schweinsberg M, Weiss LC, Striewski S, Tollrian R, Lampert KP. More than one genotype: how common is intracolonial genetic variability in scleractinian corals? Mol Ecol 2015; 24:2673-85. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.13200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2014] [Revised: 03/26/2015] [Accepted: 04/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Schweinsberg
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity; University of Bochum; 44780 Bochum Germany
| | - Linda C. Weiss
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity; University of Bochum; 44780 Bochum Germany
| | - Sebastian Striewski
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity; University of Bochum; 44780 Bochum Germany
| | - Ralph Tollrian
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity; University of Bochum; 44780 Bochum Germany
| | - Kathrin P. Lampert
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity; University of Bochum; 44780 Bochum Germany
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33
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Bhattacharyya J, Pal S. Hysteresis in coral reefs under macroalgal toxicity and overfishing. J Biol Phys 2015; 41:151-72. [PMID: 25708511 DOI: 10.1007/s10867-014-9371-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2014] [Accepted: 11/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Macroalgae and corals compete for the available space in coral reef ecosystems.While herbivorous reef fish play a beneficial role in decreasing the growth of macroalgae, macroalgal toxicity and overfishing of herbivores leads to proliferation of macroalgae. The abundance of macroalgae changes the community structure towards a macroalgae-dominated reef ecosystem. We investigate coral-macroalgal phase shifts by means of a continuous time model in a food chain. Conditions for local asymptotic stability of steady states are derived. It is observed that in the presence of macroalgal toxicity and overfishing, the system exhibits hysteresis through saddle-node bifurcation and transcritical bifurcation. We examine the effects of time lags in the liberation of toxins by macroalgae and the recovery of algal turf in response to grazing of herbivores on macroalgae by performing equilibrium and stability analyses of delay-differential forms of the ODE model. Computer simulations have been carried out to illustrate the different analytical results.
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34
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Davies SW, Treml EA, Kenkel CD, Matz MV. Exploring the role of Micronesian islands in the maintenance of coral genetic diversity in the Pacific Ocean. Mol Ecol 2014; 24:70-82. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.13005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2014] [Revised: 11/04/2014] [Accepted: 11/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- S. W. Davies
- Department of Integrative Biology; The University of Texas at Austin; 1 University Station C0990 Austin TX 78712 USA
| | - E. A. Treml
- Department of Zoology; University of Melbourne; Melbourne Vic. 3010 Australia
| | - C. D. Kenkel
- Department of Integrative Biology; The University of Texas at Austin; 1 University Station C0990 Austin TX 78712 USA
| | - M. V. Matz
- Department of Integrative Biology; The University of Texas at Austin; 1 University Station C0990 Austin TX 78712 USA
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35
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Zilberberg C, Peluso L, Marques JA, Cunha H. Polymorphic Microsatellite Loci for Endemic Mussismilia Corals (Anthozoa: Scleractinia) of the Southwest Atlantic Ocean. J Hered 2014; 105:572-575. [PMID: 24778435 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esu023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2013] [Accepted: 03/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the Southwest Atlantic, coral reefs are unique due to their growth form, low species richness, and a high level of endemic coral species, which include the most important reef builders. Although these reefs are the only true biogenic reefs in the South Atlantic Ocean, population genetic studies are still lacking. The purpose of this study was to develop a suite of microsatellite loci to help gain insights into the population diversity and connectivity of the endemic scleractinian coral with the largest distributional range along the Southwest Atlantic coast, Mussismilia hispida Fourteen microsatellite loci were characterized, and their degree of polymorphism was analyzed in 33 individuals. The number of alleles varied between 4 and 17 per loci, and H o varied between 0.156 and 0.928, with 2 loci showing significant heterozygote deficiency. Cross-amplification tests on the other 2 species of the genus (Mussismilia braziliensis and Mussismilia harttii) demonstrated that these markers are suitable for studies of population diversity and structure of all 3 species of Mussismilia Because they are the most important reef builders in the Southwest Atlantic, the developed microsatellite loci may be important tools for connectivity and conservation studies of these endemic corals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Zilberberg
- From the Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CCS, Bloco A, sala A0-104, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-590, Brazil (Peluso, and Marques); the Projeto Coral Vivo, Department of Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Zilberberg); the Projeto Coral Vivo, Department of Genetica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Cunha); and the Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CCS, Bloco A, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Cunha).
| | - Lívia Peluso
- From the Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CCS, Bloco A, sala A0-104, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-590, Brazil (Peluso, and Marques); the Projeto Coral Vivo, Department of Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Zilberberg); the Projeto Coral Vivo, Department of Genetica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Cunha); and the Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CCS, Bloco A, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Cunha)
| | - Jessica A Marques
- From the Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CCS, Bloco A, sala A0-104, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-590, Brazil (Peluso, and Marques); the Projeto Coral Vivo, Department of Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Zilberberg); the Projeto Coral Vivo, Department of Genetica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Cunha); and the Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CCS, Bloco A, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Cunha)
| | - Haydée Cunha
- From the Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CCS, Bloco A, sala A0-104, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-590, Brazil (Peluso, and Marques); the Projeto Coral Vivo, Department of Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Zilberberg); the Projeto Coral Vivo, Department of Genetica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Cunha); and the Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CCS, Bloco A, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Cunha)
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Bell JJ, Smith D, Hannan D, Haris A, Jompa J, Thomas L. Resilience to disturbance despite limited dispersal and self-recruitment in tropical barrel sponges: implications for conservation and management. PLoS One 2014; 9:e91635. [PMID: 24651687 PMCID: PMC3961256 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2013] [Accepted: 12/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
While estimates of connectivity are important for effective management, few such estimates are available for reef invertebrates other than for corals. Barrel sponges are one of the largest and most conspicuous members of the coral reef fauna across the Indo-Pacific and given their large size, longevity and ability to process large volumes of water, they have a major role in reef functioning. Here we used a panel of microsatellite markers to characterise the genetic structure of two barrel sponge species, Xestospongia testudinaria and a currently undescribed Xestospongia species. We sampled across seven populations in the Wakatobi Marine National Park, SE Sulawesi (Indonesia) spanning a spatial scale of approximately 2 to 70 km, and present the first estimates of demographic connectivity for coral reef sponges. Genetic analyses showed high levels of genetic differentiation between all populations for both species, but contrasting patterns of genetic structuring for the two species. Autocorrelation analyses showed the likely dispersal distances of both species to be in the order of 60 and 140 m for Xestopongia sp. and Xestospongia testudinaria, respectively, which was supported by assignment tests that showed high levels of self-recruitment (>80%). We also found consistently high inbreeding coefficients across all populations for both species. Our study highlights the potential susceptibility of barrel sponges to environmental perturbations because they are generally long-lived, slow growing, have small population sizes and are likely to be reliant on self-recruitment. Surprisingly, despite these features we actually found the highest abundance of both barrel sponge species (although they were generally smaller) at a site that has been severely impacted by humans over the last fifty years. This suggests that barrel sponges exhibit environmental adaptation to declining environmental quality and has important implications for the management and conservation of these important reef species.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J. Bell
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
- * E-mail:
| | - David Smith
- Coral Reef Research Unit, University of Essex, Colchester, United Kingdom
| | - Danielle Hannan
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Abdul Haris
- Research and Development Center on Marine, Coastal and Small Islands, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
| | - Jamaludin Jompa
- Research and Development Center on Marine, Coastal and Small Islands, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
| | - Luke Thomas
- The Oceans Institute, School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, Australia
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Scott A, Harrison PL, Brooks LO. Reduced salinity decreases the fertilization success and larval survival of two scleractinian coral species. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2013; 92:10-14. [PMID: 24008005 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2013.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2013] [Revised: 07/30/2013] [Accepted: 08/02/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Successful reproduction by scleractinian corals is essential for the maintenance of populations that form the foundation of coral reef ecosystems. Laboratory experiments were done to determine the effects of reduced salinity on the fertilization success and larval survival of two coral species, Platygyra daedalea and Acropora millepora, from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Fertilization rates of P. daedalea and A. millepora were significantly reduced at 25.8 psu and 33.1 psu, respectively, and completed blocked at 18.4 psu for A. millepora. The estimated larval survival times were similar from 36.8 to 25.8 psu (P. daedalea 291-312 h, A. millepora 207-264 h), whereas the 18.4 psu treatment resulted in estimates of 153 h and 24 h for P. daedalea and A. millepora, respectively. These results demonstrate that reduced salinity is detrimental to the reproductive success of these corals, and if salinity is lowered by natural or anthropogenic sources during spawning, this would lead to decreased reproductive success and recruitment on reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Scott
- National Marine Science Centre, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, PO Box 4321, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales 2450, Australia; Marine Ecology Research Centre, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore, New South Wales 2480, Australia.
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Underwood JN, Wilson SK, Ludgerus L, Evans RD. Integrating connectivity science and spatial conservation management of coral reefs in north-west Australia. J Nat Conserv 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2012.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Brazeau DA, Lesser MP, Slattery M. Genetic structure in the coral, Montastraea cavernosa: assessing genetic differentiation among and within Mesophotic reefs. PLoS One 2013; 8:e65845. [PMID: 23734263 PMCID: PMC3666989 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2011] [Accepted: 05/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesophotic coral reefs (30–150 m) have recently received increased attention as a potential source of larvae (e.g., the refugia hypothesis) to repopulate a select subset of the shallow water (<30 m) coral fauna. To test the refugia hypothesis we used highly polymorphic Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) markers as a means to assess small-scale genetic heterogeneity between geographic locations and across depth clines in the Caribbean coral, Montastraea cavernosa. Zooxanthellae-free DNA extracts of coral samples (N = 105) were analyzed from four depths, shallow (3–10 m), medium (15–25 m), deep (30–50 m) and very deep (60–90 m) from Little Cayman Island (LCI), Lee Stocking Island (LSI), Bahamas and San Salvador (SS), Bahamas which range in distance from 170 to 1,600 km apart. Using AMOVA analysis there were significant differences in ΦST values in pair wise comparisons between LCI and LSI. Among depths at LCI, there was significant genetic differentiation between shallow and medium versus deep and very deep depths in contrast there were no significant differences in ΦST values among depths at LSI. The assignment program AFLPOP, however, correctly assigned 95.7% of the LCI and LSI samples to the depths from which they were collected, differentiating among populations as little as 10 to 20 m in depth from one another. Discriminant function analysis of the data showed significant differentiation among samples when categorized by collection site as well as collection depth. FST outlier analyses identified 2 loci under positive selection and 3 under balancing selection at LCI. At LSI 2 loci were identified, both showing balancing selection. This data shows that adult populations of M. cavernosa separated by depths of tens of meters exhibits significant genetic structure, indicative of low population connectivity among and within sites and are not supplying successful recruits to adjacent coral reefs less than 30 m in depth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A Brazeau
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of New England, Portland, Maine, USA.
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Hoffman JI, Clarke A, Clark MS, Peck LS. Hierarchical population genetic structure in a direct developing antarctic marine invertebrate. PLoS One 2013; 8:e63954. [PMID: 23691125 PMCID: PMC3653801 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0063954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2012] [Accepted: 04/10/2013] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the relationship between life-history variation and population structure in marine invertebrates is not straightforward. This is particularly true of polar species due to the difficulty of obtaining samples and a paucity of genomic resources from which to develop nuclear genetic markers. Such knowledge, however, is essential for understanding how different taxa may respond to climate change in the most rapidly warming regions of the planet. We therefore used over two hundred polymorphic Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs) to explore population connectivity at three hierachical spatial scales in the direct developing Antarctic topshell Margarella antarctica. To previously published data from five populations spanning a 1500 km transect along the length of the Western Antarctic Peninsula, we added new AFLP data for four populations separated by up to 6 km within Ryder Bay, Adelaide Island. Overall, we found a nonlinear isolation-by-distance pattern, suggestive of weaker population structure within Ryder Bay than is present over larger spatial scales. Nevertheless, significantly positive Fst values were obtained in all but two of ten pairwise population comparisons within the bay following Bonferroni correction for multiple tests. This is in contrast to a previous study of the broadcast spawner Nacella concinna that found no significant genetic differences among several of the same sites. By implication, the topshell's direct-developing lifestyle may constrain its ability to disperse even over relatively small geographic scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph I. Hoffman
- Department of Animal Behaviour, University of Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Andrew Clarke
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Melody S. Clark
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Lloyd S. Peck
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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41
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Gilmour JP, Smith LD, Heyward AJ, Baird AH, Pratchett MS. Recovery of an isolated coral reef system following severe disturbance. Science 2013; 340:69-71. [PMID: 23559247 DOI: 10.1126/science.1232310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 212] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Coral reef recovery from major disturbance is hypothesized to depend on the arrival of propagules from nearby undisturbed reefs. Therefore, reefs isolated by distance or current patterns are thought to be highly vulnerable to catastrophic disturbance. We found that on an isolated reef system in north Western Australia, coral cover increased from 9% to 44% within 12 years of a coral bleaching event, despite a 94% reduction in larval supply for 6 years after the bleaching. The initial increase in coral cover was the result of high rates of growth and survival of remnant colonies, followed by a rapid increase in juvenile recruitment as colonies matured. We show that isolated reefs can recover from major disturbance, and that the benefits of their isolation from chronic anthropogenic pressures can outweigh the costs of limited connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P Gilmour
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, University of Western Australia Oceans Institute, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
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42
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Andras JP, Rypien KL, Harvell CD. Range-wide population genetic structure of the Caribbean sea fan coral, Gorgonia ventalina. Mol Ecol 2012; 22:56-73. [PMID: 23171044 DOI: 10.1111/mec.12104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2011] [Revised: 09/19/2012] [Accepted: 09/24/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The population structure of benthic marine organisms is of central relevance to the conservation and management of these often threatened species, as well as to the accurate understanding of their ecological and evolutionary dynamics. A growing body of evidence suggests that marine populations can be structured over short distances despite theoretically high dispersal potential. Yet the proposed mechanisms governing this structure vary, and existing empirical population genetic evidence is of insufficient taxonomic and geographic scope to allow for strong general inferences. Here, we describe the range-wide population genetic structure of an ecologically important Caribbean octocoral, Gorgonia ventalina. Genetic differentiation was positively correlated with geographic distance and negatively correlated with oceanographically modelled dispersal probability throughout the range. Although we observed admixture across hundreds of kilometres, estimated dispersal was low, and populations were differentiated across distances <2 km. These results suggest that populations of G. ventalina may be evolutionarily coupled via gene flow but are largely demographically independent. Observed patterns of differentiation corroborate biogeographic breaks found in other taxa (e.g. an east/west divide near Puerto Rico), and also identify population divides not discussed in previous studies (e.g. the Yucatan Channel). High genotypic diversity and absence of clonemates indicate that sex is the primary reproductive mode for G. ventalina. A comparative analysis of the population structure of G. ventalina and its dinoflagellate symbiont, Symbiodinium, indicates that the dispersal of these symbiotic partners is not coupled, and symbiont transmission occurs horizontally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason P Andras
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Dale R. Corson Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
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Bode M, Connolly SR, Pandolfi JM. Species differences drive nonneutral structure in pleistocene coral communities. Am Nat 2012; 180:577-88. [PMID: 23070319 DOI: 10.1086/667892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Although ecological assemblages frequently depart from neutral model predictions, these discrepancies have not been unambiguously attributed to neutral theory's core assumption: that community structure is primarily the result of chance variation in birth, death, speciation, and dispersal, rather than the manifestation of demographic differences among species. Using coral communities in Barbados from four time periods during the Pleistocene, we demonstrate that the neutral theory cannot explain coral community similarity distributions, species' regional abundance distributions, or their local occupancy. Furthermore, discrepancies between the neutral theory and the observed communities can be attributed to violation of the core assumption of species equivalence. In particular, species' variable growth rates are driving departures from neutral predictions. Our results reinforce an understanding of reef coral community assembly that invokes trade-offs in species' demographic strategies. The results further suggest that conservation management actions will fail if they are based on the neutral assumption that different coral species are equally able to create live coral cover in the shallow-water reef environment. These findings highlight the importance of developing biodiversity theory that can parsimoniously incorporate species differences in coral reef communities, rather than further elaborating neutral theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Bode
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, School of Botany, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
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Underwood JN, Travers MJ, Gilmour JP. Subtle genetic structure reveals restricted connectivity among populations of a coral reef fish inhabiting remote atolls. Ecol Evol 2012; 2:666-79. [PMID: 22822442 PMCID: PMC3399152 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.80] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2011] [Accepted: 10/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
We utilized a spatial and temporal analyses of genetic structure, supplemented with ecological and oceanographic analysis, to assess patterns of population connectivity in a coral reef fish Chromis margaritifer among the unique and remote atolls in the eastern Indian Ocean. A subtle, but significant genetic discontinuity at 10 microsatellite DNA loci was detected between atoll systems corresponding with a low (≤ 1%) probability of advection across the hundreds of kilometers of open ocean that separates them. Thus, although genetic connections between systems are likely maintained by occasional long-distance dispersal of C. margaritifer larvae, ecological population connectivity at this spatial scale appears to be restricted. Further, within one of these atoll systems, significant spatial differentiation among samples was accompanied by a lack of temporal pairwise differentiation between recruit and adult samples, indicating that restrictions to connectivity also occur at a local scale (tens of kilometers). In contrast, a signal of panmixia was detected at the other atoll system studied. Lastly, greater relatedness and reduced genetic diversity within recruit samples was associated with relatively large differences among them, indicating the presence of sweepstakes reproduction whereby a small proportion of adults contributes to recruitment in the next generation. These results are congruent with earlier work on hard corals, suggesting that local production of larvae drives population replenishment in these atoll systems for a range of coral reef species.
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Richards ZT, Oppen MJH. Rarity and genetic diversity in Indo-Pacific Acropora corals. Ecol Evol 2012; 2:1867-88. [PMID: 22957189 PMCID: PMC3433991 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2012] [Revised: 05/24/2012] [Accepted: 05/25/2012] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Among various potential consequences of rarity is genetic erosion. Neutral genetic theory predicts that rare species will have lower genetic diversity than common species. To examine the association between genetic diversity and rarity, variation at eight DNA microsatellite markers was documented for 14 Acropora species that display different patterns of distribution and abundance in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Our results show that the relationship between rarity and genetic diversity is not a positive linear association because, contrary to expectations, some rare species are genetically diverse and some populations of common species are genetically depleted. Our data suggest that inbreeding is the most likely mechanism of genetic depletion in both rare and common corals, and that hybridization is the most likely explanation for higher than expected levels of genetic diversity in rare species. A significant hypothesis generated from our study with direct conservation implications is that as a group, Acropora corals have lower genetic diversity at neutral microsatellite loci than may be expected from their taxonomic diversity, and this may suggest a heightened susceptibility to environmental change. This hypothesis requires validation based on genetic diversity estimates derived from a large portion of the genome.
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Treml EA, Roberts JJ, Chao Y, Halpin PN, Possingham HP, Riginos C. Reproductive output and duration of the pelagic larval stage determine seascape-wide connectivity of marine populations. Integr Comp Biol 2012; 52:525-37. [PMID: 22821585 DOI: 10.1093/icb/ics101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Connectivity among marine populations is critical for persistence of metapopulations, coping with climate change, and determining the geographic distribution of species. The influence of pelagic larval duration (PLD) on connectivity has been studied extensively, but relatively little is known about the influence of other biological parameters, such as the survival and behavior of larvae, and the fecundity of adults, on population connectivity. Furthermore, the interaction between the seascape (habitat structure and currents) and these biological parameters is unclear. We explore these interactions using a biophysical model of larval dispersal across the Indo-Pacific. We describe an approach that quantifies geographic patterns of connectivity from demographically relevant to evolutionarily significant levels across a range of species. We predict that at least 95% of larval settlement occurs within 155 km of the source population and within 13 days irrespective of the species' life history, yet long-distant connections remain likely. Self-recruitment is primarily driven by the local oceanography, larval mortality, and the larval precompetency period, whereas broad-scale connectivity is strongly influenced by reproductive output (abundance and fecundity of adults) and the length of PLD. The networks we have created are geographically explicit models of marine connectivity that define dispersal corridors, barriers, and the emergent structure of marine populations. These models provide hypotheses for empirical testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric A Treml
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Qld, Australia.
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Johnson CH, Woollacott RM. Seasonal patterns of population structure in a colonial marine invertebrate (Bugula stolonifera, Bryozoa). THE BIOLOGICAL BULLETIN 2012; 222:203-213. [PMID: 22815369 DOI: 10.1086/bblv222n3p203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
For sessile invertebrates, the degree to which dispersal mechanisms transport individuals away from their natal grounds can have significant ecological implications. Even though the larvae of the marine bryozoan Bugula stolonifera have limited dispersal potential, high levels of genetic mixing have been found within their conspecific aggregations. In this study, we investigated whether this high mixing within aggregations of B. stolonifera also resulted in high mixing between aggregations. Adult colonies were collected from five sites within and one site outside of Eel Pond, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, in August 2009 and genotyped at 10 microsatellite loci. Significant genotypic differentiation was found between most sites, suggesting limited connectivity across sites, even those separated by only 100 m. This investigation was extended to determine if low levels of genetic mixing throughout the reproductive season could result in increased homogeneity between sites. Four of the five sites in Eel Pond were sampled early, mid-, and late in the reproductive season in 2010, and again in early 2011. Inter- and intra-annual genotypic differentiation was then assessed within and between sites. Results from these analyses document that low levels of mixing could result in increased homogeneity between some aggregations, but that barriers to genetic exchange prevented mixing between most sites. Further, results from inter-annual comparisons within sites suggest that any potential homogeneity achieved throughout the reproductive season will likely be lost by the beginning of the next reproductive season due to the annual cycle of colony die-back and regrowth experienced by B. stolonifera colonies in Eel Pond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Collin H Johnson
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
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Casado-Amezúa P, Goffredo S, Templado J, Machordom A. Genetic assessment of population structure and connectivity in the threatened Mediterranean coral Astroides calycularis (Scleractinia, Dendrophylliidae) at different spatial scales. Mol Ecol 2012; 21:3671-85. [PMID: 22646530 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2012.05655.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Understanding dispersal patterns, population structure and connectivity among populations is helpful in the management and conservation of threatened species. Molecular markers are useful tools as indirect estimators of these characteristics. In this study, we assess the population genetic structure of the orange coral Astroides calycularis in the Alboran Sea at local and regional scale, and at three localities outside of this basin. Bayesian clustering methods, traditional F-statistics and D(est) statistics were used to determine the patterns of genetic structure. Likelihood and coalescence approaches were used to infer migration patterns and effective population sizes. The results obtained reveal a high level of connectivity among localities separated by as much as 1 km and moderate levels of genetic differentiation among more distant localities, somewhat corresponding with a stepping-stone model of gene flow and connectivity. These data suggest that connectivity among populations of this coral is mainly driven by the biology of the species, with low dispersal abilities; in addition, hydrodynamic processes, oceanographic fronts and the distribution of rocky substrate along the coastline may influence larval dispersal.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Casado-Amezúa
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain.
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Berry O, England P, Marriott RJ, Burridge CP, Newman SJ. Understanding age-specific dispersal in fishes through hydrodynamic modelling, genetic simulations and microsatellite DNA analysis. Mol Ecol 2012; 21:2145-59. [PMID: 22417082 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2012.05520.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Many marine species have vastly different capacities for dispersal during larval, juvenile and adult life stages, and this has the potential to complicate the identification of population boundaries and the implementation of effective management strategies such as marine protected areas. Genetic studies of population structure and dispersal rarely disentangle these differences and usually provide only lifetime-averaged information that can be considered by managers. We address this limitation by combining age-specific autocorrelation analysis of microsatellite genotypes, hydrodynamic modelling and genetic simulations to reveal changes in the extent of dispersal during the lifetime of a marine fish. We focus on an exploited coral reef species, Lethrinus nebulosus, which has a circum-tropical distribution and is a key component of a multispecies fishery in northwestern Australia. Conventional population genetic analyses revealed extensive gene flow in this species over vast distances (up to 1,500 km). Yet, when realistic adult dispersal behaviours were modelled, they could not account for these observations, implying adult dispersal does not dominate gene flow. Instead, hydrodynamic modelling showed that larval L. nebulosus are likely to be transported hundreds of kilometres, easily accounting for the observed gene flow. Despite the vast scale of larval transport, juvenile L. nebulosus exhibited fine-scale genetic autocorrelation, which declined with age. This implies both larval cohesion and extremely limited juvenile dispersal prior to maturity. The multidisciplinary approach adopted in this study provides a uniquely comprehensive insight into spatial processes in this marine fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Berry
- CSIRO Wealth From Oceans National Research Flagship, and CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Private Mail Bag 5, Wembley, WA 6913, Australia.
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Hoffman JI, Clarke A, Clark MS, Fretwell P, Peck LS. Unexpected fine-scale population structure in a broadcast-spawning Antarctic marine mollusc. PLoS One 2012; 7:e32415. [PMID: 22403655 PMCID: PMC3293793 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0032415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2011] [Accepted: 01/27/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Several recent empirical studies have challenged the prevailing dogma that broadcast-spawning species exhibit little or no population genetic structure by documenting genetic discontinuities associated with large-scale oceanographic features. However, relatively few studies have explored patterns of genetic differentiation over fine spatial scales. Consequently, we used a hierarchical sampling design to investigate the basis of a weak but significant genetic difference previously reported between Antarctic limpets (Nacella concinna) sampled from Adelaide and Galindez Islands near the base of the Antarctic Peninsula. Three sites within Ryder Bay, Adelaide Island (Rothera Point, Leonie and Anchorage Islands) were each sub-sampled three times, yielding a total of 405 samples that were genotyped at 155 informative Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs). Contrary to our initial expectations, limpets from Anchorage Island were found to be subtly, but significantly distinct from those sampled from the other sites. This suggests that local processes may play an important role in generating fine-scale population structure even in species with excellent dispersal capabilities, and highlights the importance of sampling at multiple spatial scales in population genetic surveys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph I Hoffman
- Department of Animal Behaviour, University of Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany.
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