Genetic Diversity and Local Connectivity in the Mediterranean Red Gorgonian Coral after Mass Mortality Events. | - CCMAR -

Journal Article

TitleGenetic Diversity and Local Connectivity in the Mediterranean Red Gorgonian Coral after Mass Mortality Events.
Publication TypeJournal Article
AuthorsPilczynska, J, Cocito, S, Boavida, J, Serrão, EA, Queiroga, H
Year of Publication2016
JournalPLoS One
Volume11
Issue3
Date Published2016
Paginatione0150590
ISSN1932-6203
KeywordsAnimals, Anthozoa, Genetic Variation, Mediterranean Sea, Microsatellite Repeats
Abstract

Estimating the patterns of connectivity in marine taxa with planktonic dispersive stages is a challenging but crucial task because of its conservation implications. The red gorgonian Paramuricea clavata is a habitat forming species, characterized by short larval dispersal and high reproductive output, but low recruitment. In the recent past, the species was impacted by mass mortality events caused by increased water temperatures in summer. In the present study, we used 9 microsatellites to investigate the genetic structure and connectivity in the highly threatened populations from the Ligurian Sea (NW Mediterranean). No evidence for a recent bottleneck neither decreased genetic diversity in sites impacted by mass mortality events were found. Significant IBD pattern and high global FST confirmed low larval dispersal capability in the red gorgonian. The maximum dispersal distance was estimated at 20-60 km. Larval exchange between sites separated by hundreds of meters and between different depths was detected at each site, supporting the hypothesis that deeper subpopulations unaffected by surface warming peaks may provide larvae for shallower ones, enabling recovery after climatically induced mortality events.

DOI10.1371/journal.pone.0150590
Sapientia

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26982334?dopt=Abstract

Alternate JournalPLoS ONE
PubMed ID26982334
PubMed Central IDPMC4794161
CCMAR Authors