Depth-Dependent Genetic Structuring of a Depth-Generalist Coral and Its Symbiodiniaceae Algal Communities at Campeche Bank, Mexico
Depth-generalist coral holobionts inhabit shallow (0–30 m) and mesophotic (30–150 m) reef zones but may exhibit genetic specialization as a result of adaptations to environmental shifts and/or due to a lack of dispersal across depth. The level of depth-dependent genetic structuring varies across ree...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-05-01
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Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
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Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.835789/full |
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author | Alexis B. Sturm Ryan J. Eckert Ashley M. Carreiro Nuno Simões Nuno Simões Nuno Simões Joshua D. Voss |
author_facet | Alexis B. Sturm Ryan J. Eckert Ashley M. Carreiro Nuno Simões Nuno Simões Nuno Simões Joshua D. Voss |
author_sort | Alexis B. Sturm |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Depth-generalist coral holobionts inhabit shallow (0–30 m) and mesophotic (30–150 m) reef zones but may exhibit genetic specialization as a result of adaptations to environmental shifts and/or due to a lack of dispersal across depth. The level of depth-dependent genetic structuring varies across reef locations which may impact the roles mesophotic populations play in the persistence and recovery of metapopulations. A depth-generalist coral species, Montastraea cavernosa, was sampled across a shallow to mesophotic gradient at 10, 15, 25, and 35 m at Alacranes and Bajos del Norte reefs on Campeche Bank, Mexico. Both 2bRAD and ITS2 sequencing were used to quantify genetic differentiation of the coral hosts and community structure of their algal endosymbionts (Family Symbiodiniaceae) across depth zones and between these reefs. Significant levels of M. cavernosa genetic differentiation were identified across depth at both reefs, especially between the shallow (10, 15, and 25 m) and mesophotic (35 m) zones. While Symbiodiniaceae hosted by these corals were predominantly Cladocopium species, both depth and reef location were significant factors driving ITS2 type profiles found within each population. The magnitude of depth-dependent genetic structuring of both the coral and Symbiodiniaceae was much greater at Alacranes, relative to Bajos del Norte, suggesting that the refugia potential of mesophotic communities at Alacranes is limited. However, relatively high levels of horizontal coral connectivity between the two reefs, and Bajos del Norte’s location at the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico suggests that it may play an important role in the maintenance of the coral’s regional metapopulation and should be considered in future assessments of this species’ connectivity dynamics and management. |
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issn | 2296-7745 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-12T11:50:35Z |
publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
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series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
spelling | doaj.art-72d6a74cabd948d7a0ed97f7662271f72022-12-22T03:34:11ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452022-05-01910.3389/fmars.2022.835789835789Depth-Dependent Genetic Structuring of a Depth-Generalist Coral and Its Symbiodiniaceae Algal Communities at Campeche Bank, MexicoAlexis B. Sturm0Ryan J. Eckert1Ashley M. Carreiro2Nuno Simões3Nuno Simões4Nuno Simões5Joshua D. Voss6Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Fort Pierce, FL, United StatesHarbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Fort Pierce, FL, United StatesHarbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Fort Pierce, FL, United StatesUnidad Multidisciplinaria de Docencia e Investigación–Sisal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto de Abrigo S/N, Sisal, Yucatán, MexicoInternational Chair for Coastal and Marine Studies, Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, United StatesLaboratorio Nacional de Resiliencia Costera (LANRESC), Laboratorios Nacionales, CONACYT, Sisal, MexicoHarbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Fort Pierce, FL, United StatesDepth-generalist coral holobionts inhabit shallow (0–30 m) and mesophotic (30–150 m) reef zones but may exhibit genetic specialization as a result of adaptations to environmental shifts and/or due to a lack of dispersal across depth. The level of depth-dependent genetic structuring varies across reef locations which may impact the roles mesophotic populations play in the persistence and recovery of metapopulations. A depth-generalist coral species, Montastraea cavernosa, was sampled across a shallow to mesophotic gradient at 10, 15, 25, and 35 m at Alacranes and Bajos del Norte reefs on Campeche Bank, Mexico. Both 2bRAD and ITS2 sequencing were used to quantify genetic differentiation of the coral hosts and community structure of their algal endosymbionts (Family Symbiodiniaceae) across depth zones and between these reefs. Significant levels of M. cavernosa genetic differentiation were identified across depth at both reefs, especially between the shallow (10, 15, and 25 m) and mesophotic (35 m) zones. While Symbiodiniaceae hosted by these corals were predominantly Cladocopium species, both depth and reef location were significant factors driving ITS2 type profiles found within each population. The magnitude of depth-dependent genetic structuring of both the coral and Symbiodiniaceae was much greater at Alacranes, relative to Bajos del Norte, suggesting that the refugia potential of mesophotic communities at Alacranes is limited. However, relatively high levels of horizontal coral connectivity between the two reefs, and Bajos del Norte’s location at the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico suggests that it may play an important role in the maintenance of the coral’s regional metapopulation and should be considered in future assessments of this species’ connectivity dynamics and management.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.835789/fullmesophotic coral ecosystemsSymbiodiniaceae2bRADITS2Gulf of MexicoAlacranes |
spellingShingle | Alexis B. Sturm Ryan J. Eckert Ashley M. Carreiro Nuno Simões Nuno Simões Nuno Simões Joshua D. Voss Depth-Dependent Genetic Structuring of a Depth-Generalist Coral and Its Symbiodiniaceae Algal Communities at Campeche Bank, Mexico Frontiers in Marine Science mesophotic coral ecosystems Symbiodiniaceae 2bRAD ITS2 Gulf of Mexico Alacranes |
title | Depth-Dependent Genetic Structuring of a Depth-Generalist Coral and Its Symbiodiniaceae Algal Communities at Campeche Bank, Mexico |
title_full | Depth-Dependent Genetic Structuring of a Depth-Generalist Coral and Its Symbiodiniaceae Algal Communities at Campeche Bank, Mexico |
title_fullStr | Depth-Dependent Genetic Structuring of a Depth-Generalist Coral and Its Symbiodiniaceae Algal Communities at Campeche Bank, Mexico |
title_full_unstemmed | Depth-Dependent Genetic Structuring of a Depth-Generalist Coral and Its Symbiodiniaceae Algal Communities at Campeche Bank, Mexico |
title_short | Depth-Dependent Genetic Structuring of a Depth-Generalist Coral and Its Symbiodiniaceae Algal Communities at Campeche Bank, Mexico |
title_sort | depth dependent genetic structuring of a depth generalist coral and its symbiodiniaceae algal communities at campeche bank mexico |
topic | mesophotic coral ecosystems Symbiodiniaceae 2bRAD ITS2 Gulf of Mexico Alacranes |
url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.835789/full |
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