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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
Fertile Hybrids Could Aid Coral Adaptation
Ecology and evolution, Vol.14(11), e70570
20/11/2024
PMID: 39568767
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Abstract
Fertile hybrids can enhance the adaptive capacity and resilience of species under stress by increasing genetic diversity within populations, masking the effects of deleterious recessive alleles, and facilitating the introgression of beneficial genetic variants into parental species. However, many hybrids are infertile. We compared the fertility of aquarium-reared F1 hybrid and purebred corals of the species Acropora loripes and Acropora kenti and examined the viability of early life stages of second-generation (F2) hybrid and back-crossed planula larvae and recruits. The F1 hybrids spawned viable gametes and the F2 hybrid and back-crossed embryos developed into planula larvae and settled to become sessile coral recruits. The F1 hybrids had greater reproductive fitness than the F1 A. loripes purebred stock in an aquarium environment based on their probability of spawning and their fertilization success in crosses using their gametes. Interspecific coral hybrids can therefore be fertile and have high reproductive fitness, which could benefit the persistence of threatened coral reefs.
Details
- Title
- Fertile Hybrids Could Aid Coral Adaptation
- Creators
- Annika M. Lamb - Australian Institute of Marine ScienceLesa M. Peplow - Australian Institute of Marine ScienceWing Yan Chan - Australian Institute of Marine ScienceZoe J. Crane - Australian Institute of Marine ScienceGlenn A. Everson - Australian Institute of Marine SciencePeter L. Harrison - Southern Cross UniversityTalley E. Hite - Australian Institute of Marine ScienceAry A. Hoffmann - University of MelbourneCraig A. Humphrey - Australian Institute of Marine ScienceLonidas P. Koukoumaftsis - Australian Institute of Marine ScienceMadeleine J. H. van Oppen - Australian Institute of Marine Science
- Publication Details
- Ecology and evolution, Vol.14(11), e70570
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons Inc; HOBOKEN
- Grant note
- Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. Australian Research Council Laureate Fellowship (FL180100036).
- Identifiers
- 991013237913402368
- Copyright
- © 2024 The Author(s)
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article