Journal article
Genetic diversity and differentiation among high-latitude broadcast-spawning coral populations disjunct from the core range
Marine Ecology Progress Series, Vol.491, pp.101-109
2013
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Source: InCites
Abstract
<p>Little is known regarding the maintenance of range-edge populations in the absence of gene flow from core populations. In this study, we used 7 microsatellite markers to investigate genetic diversity and differentiation of the broadcast-spawning coral species <em>Acropora solitaryensis</em> among range-edge populations that are disjunct from the core range, and cautiously infer what this means in terms of connectivity. <em>Acropora solitaryensis</em> in sub-tropical eastern Australia is effectively isolated from conspecifics thousands of kilometers away and cannot rely on immigration from core populations for population maintenance. The range-edge region in this study consists of nearshore (Solitary Island) and offshore (Lord Howe Island) populations separated by >630 km. Despite the presence of null alleles, genetic diversity was within the range of that observed in other <em>Acropora</em> species. Nearshore and offshore populations were found to be genetically differentiated, with some indication of a small number of long-distant migrants in both directions. From both a demographic and a genetic perspective, this result may be important for the long-term persistence of <em>A. solitaryensis</em> at this range edge.</p>
Details
- Title
- Genetic diversity and differentiation among high-latitude broadcast-spawning coral populations disjunct from the core range
- Creators
- Annika ME Noreen - Southern Cross UniversityMadeleine JH van Oppen - Australian Istitute of Marine SciencePeter Lynton Harrison - Southern Cross University
- Publication Details
- Marine Ecology Progress Series, Vol.491, pp.101-109
- Identifiers
- 3057; 991012821170302368
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; Science; School of Environment, Science and Engineering; Marine Ecology Research Centre
- Resource Type
- Journal article