Implications of isolation and low genetic diversity in peripheral populations of an amphi‐Atlantic coral
Abstract Limited dispersal and connectivity in marine organisms can have negative fitness effects in populations that are small and isolated, but reduced genetic exchange may also promote the potential for local adaptation. Here, we compare the levels of genetic diversity and connectivity in the cor...
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crwiley:10.1111/j.1365-294x.2009.04347.x 2024-06-23T07:55:01+00:00 Implications of isolation and low genetic diversity in peripheral populations of an amphi‐Atlantic coral NUNES, F. NORRIS, R. D. KNOWLTON, N. 2009 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294x.2009.04347.x https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1365-294X.2009.04347.x https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2009.04347.x en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor Molecular Ecology volume 18, issue 20, page 4283-4297 ISSN 0962-1083 1365-294X journal-article 2009 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294x.2009.04347.x 2024-05-31T08:15:31Z Abstract Limited dispersal and connectivity in marine organisms can have negative fitness effects in populations that are small and isolated, but reduced genetic exchange may also promote the potential for local adaptation. Here, we compare the levels of genetic diversity and connectivity in the coral Montastraea cavernosa among both central and peripheral populations throughout its range in the Atlantic. Genetic data from one mitochondrial and two nuclear loci in 191 individuals show that M. cavernosa is subdivided into three genetically distinct regions in the Atlantic: Caribbean‐North Atlantic, Western South Atlantic (Brazil) and Eastern Tropical Atlantic (West Africa). Within each region, populations have similar allele frequencies and levels of genetic diversity; indeed, no significant differentiation was found between populations separated by as much as 3000 km, suggesting that this coral species has the ability to disperse over large distances. Gene flow within regions does not, however, translate into connectivity across the entire Atlantic. Instead, substantial differences in allele frequencies across regions suggest that genetic exchange is infrequent between the Caribbean, Brazil and West Africa. Furthermore, markedly lower levels of genetic diversity are observed in the Brazilian and West African populations. Genetic diversity and connectivity may contribute to the resilience of a coral population to disturbance. Isolated peripheral populations may be more vulnerable to human impacts, disease or climate change relative to those in the genetically diverse Caribbean‐North Atlantic region. Article in Journal/Newspaper North Atlantic Wiley Online Library Molecular Ecology 18 20 4283 4297 |
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Wiley Online Library |
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crwiley |
language |
English |
description |
Abstract Limited dispersal and connectivity in marine organisms can have negative fitness effects in populations that are small and isolated, but reduced genetic exchange may also promote the potential for local adaptation. Here, we compare the levels of genetic diversity and connectivity in the coral Montastraea cavernosa among both central and peripheral populations throughout its range in the Atlantic. Genetic data from one mitochondrial and two nuclear loci in 191 individuals show that M. cavernosa is subdivided into three genetically distinct regions in the Atlantic: Caribbean‐North Atlantic, Western South Atlantic (Brazil) and Eastern Tropical Atlantic (West Africa). Within each region, populations have similar allele frequencies and levels of genetic diversity; indeed, no significant differentiation was found between populations separated by as much as 3000 km, suggesting that this coral species has the ability to disperse over large distances. Gene flow within regions does not, however, translate into connectivity across the entire Atlantic. Instead, substantial differences in allele frequencies across regions suggest that genetic exchange is infrequent between the Caribbean, Brazil and West Africa. Furthermore, markedly lower levels of genetic diversity are observed in the Brazilian and West African populations. Genetic diversity and connectivity may contribute to the resilience of a coral population to disturbance. Isolated peripheral populations may be more vulnerable to human impacts, disease or climate change relative to those in the genetically diverse Caribbean‐North Atlantic region. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
NUNES, F. NORRIS, R. D. KNOWLTON, N. |
spellingShingle |
NUNES, F. NORRIS, R. D. KNOWLTON, N. Implications of isolation and low genetic diversity in peripheral populations of an amphi‐Atlantic coral |
author_facet |
NUNES, F. NORRIS, R. D. KNOWLTON, N. |
author_sort |
NUNES, F. |
title |
Implications of isolation and low genetic diversity in peripheral populations of an amphi‐Atlantic coral |
title_short |
Implications of isolation and low genetic diversity in peripheral populations of an amphi‐Atlantic coral |
title_full |
Implications of isolation and low genetic diversity in peripheral populations of an amphi‐Atlantic coral |
title_fullStr |
Implications of isolation and low genetic diversity in peripheral populations of an amphi‐Atlantic coral |
title_full_unstemmed |
Implications of isolation and low genetic diversity in peripheral populations of an amphi‐Atlantic coral |
title_sort |
implications of isolation and low genetic diversity in peripheral populations of an amphi‐atlantic coral |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2009 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294x.2009.04347.x https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1365-294X.2009.04347.x https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2009.04347.x |
genre |
North Atlantic |
genre_facet |
North Atlantic |
op_source |
Molecular Ecology volume 18, issue 20, page 4283-4297 ISSN 0962-1083 1365-294X |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294x.2009.04347.x |
container_title |
Molecular Ecology |
container_volume |
18 |
container_issue |
20 |
container_start_page |
4283 |
op_container_end_page |
4297 |
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1802647412510031872 |