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Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open
Journal article
Connectivity enhances resilience of marine forests after an extreme event
Scientific reports, Vol.15(1), pp.1-13
11/02/2025
PMID: 39934205
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Abstract
The resilience of populations to extreme climatic events comprises the resistance to withstand and the ability to recover, which depends on factors such as remaining genetic diversity and population connectivity. In 2011, a MHW caused a 100 km range contraction of kelp (Ecklonia radiata) off Western Australia, but recently recovering kelp forests were discovered. To understand mechanisms of recovery and determine if recovering populations are survivors or immigrants, we used genotyping-by-sequencing to assess patterns of genetic diversity and connectivity. We found that two of the three recovering kelp forests (PG1 and 2) were likely survivors whereas a third smaller population (PGCr 1) was likely produced through re-colonisation from nearby surviving forests. Connectivity was high among populations and migration analysis identified one population (Horrocks) as the most important source for the recovering kelps. All recovering populations had higher neutral genetic diversity, and similar putative adaptive diversity to surrounding surviving populations, suggesting local adaptation. Our results elucidate how mixed processes can contribute to kelp forest resilience following MHWs but cryptic survival and maintenance of population connectivity is key to recovery.
Details
- Title
- Connectivity enhances resilience of marine forests after an extreme event
- Creators
- Sofie Vranken - The University of Western AustraliaThomas Wernberg - The University of Western AustraliaArmin Scheben - The University of Western AustraliaAlbert Pessarrodona - The University of Western AustraliaJacqueline Batley - The University of Western AustraliaMelinda Ann Coleman - The University of Western Australia
- Publication Details
- Scientific reports, Vol.15(1), pp.1-13
- Publisher
- Nature Publishing Group UK; BERLIN
- Grant note
- This research was supported by the Australian Research Council through DP160100114 and DP200100201 granted to T.W. and M.A.C. and by a Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment Grant of The Ecological Society of Australia granted to S.V.. S.V., A.P., A.S. were supported by IPRS and RTP scholarships awarded by the Australian Government.
- Identifiers
- 991013260208102368
- Copyright
- © Crown 2025
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article