Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.

Genetic Diversity and Local Connectivity in the Mediterranean Red Gorgonian Coral after Mass Mortality Events

TitleGenetic Diversity and Local Connectivity in the Mediterranean Red Gorgonian Coral after Mass Mortality Events
Publication TypeArticolo su Rivista peer-reviewed
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsPilczynska, Joanna, Cocito Silvia, Boavida Joana, Serrao Ester, and Queiroga Henrique
JournalPLOS ONE
Volume11
Paginatione0150590
Date PublishedMAR 16
ISSN19326203
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 F-ST 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
Citation Key ISI:000372574900045