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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
Genetic and morphological diversity in sympatric kelps with contrasting reproductive strategies
Aquatic Biology, Vol.27, pp.65-73
18/07/2018
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Source: InCites
Abstract
The evolution of asexual reproduction is considered a response to environmental conditions where it incurs less cost than sexual reproduction, maintains adapted genotypes and allows rapid proliferation into new areas. In rare circumstances, some species have evolved distinct asexual morphs or lineages in response to ubiquitous environmental conditions. Understanding the implications of, and the mechanisms underpinning, such reproductive strategies will be important for assessing the vulnerability of populations to environmental change. We examined morphological and genetic variation between 2 morphs of the kelp Ecklonia radiata, with sympatric haplodiplontic and vegetatively reproducing individuals growing side by side in Western Australia. Using 6 microsatellite markers, we show that vegetative morphs had a great propensity for asexual reproduction, with all attached haptera (8-20 per plant) being genetically identical to their parent plant. Moreover, for 8 multilocus genotypes (MLGs), Psex (probability that each MLG had clonal origins) scores were significant, suggesting clonal origins, and members of these MLGs were overwhelmingly dominated by individuals of the vegetative morph. Vegetative morphs were morphologically distinct, less morphologically variable, had lower genetic diversity and an excess of heterozygotes relative to haplodiplontic morphs. Nevertheless, vegetative morphs still produced and released zoospores at the same densities as haplodiplontic individuals, suggesting that they still complete an alternation of generations life history strategy. This likely accounted for weak genetic differentiation between morphs and suggests ongoing gene flow. Given that genetic diversity often confers adaptive capacity through change, low diversity may have implications for the vulnerability of this unique vegetative morph to local climatic and environmental stressors.
Details
- Title
- Genetic and morphological diversity in sympatric kelps with contrasting reproductive strategies
- Creators
- M A Coleman - Southern Cross UniversityT Wernberg - University of Western Australia
- Publication Details
- Aquatic Biology, Vol.27, pp.65-73
- Publisher
- Inter-Research
- Grant note
- This work was funded by an Australian Research Council Fellowship and Discovery grant to M.A.C. (DP0663550) and a Discovery grant (DP160100114) to T.W. and M.A.C.
- Identifiers
- 991012927095302368
- Copyright
- © The authors 2018. Open Access under Creative Commons by Attribution Licence. Use, distribution and reproduction are un - restricted. Authors and original publication must be credited.
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; Science; National Marine Science Centre
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article