Resilience to periodic disturbances and the long-term genetic stability in Acropora coral
Abstract Climate change is restructuring natural ecosystems. The direct impacts of these events on biodiversity and community structure are widely documented, but the impacts on the genetic variation of populations remains largely unknown. We monitored populations of Acropora coral on a remote coral...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Communications Biology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06100-0 |
| _version_ | 1797219673525190656 |
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| author | L. Thomas D. Şahin A. S. Adam C. M. Grimaldi N. M. Ryan S. L. Duffy J. N. Underwood W. J. Kennington J. P. Gilmour |
| author_facet | L. Thomas D. Şahin A. S. Adam C. M. Grimaldi N. M. Ryan S. L. Duffy J. N. Underwood W. J. Kennington J. P. Gilmour |
| author_sort | L. Thomas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Climate change is restructuring natural ecosystems. The direct impacts of these events on biodiversity and community structure are widely documented, but the impacts on the genetic variation of populations remains largely unknown. We monitored populations of Acropora coral on a remote coral reef system in northwest Australia for two decades and through multiple cycles of impact and recovery. We combined these demographic data with a temporal genetic dataset of a common broadcast spawning corymbose Acropora to explore the spatial and temporal patterns of connectivity underlying recovery. Our data show that broad-scale dispersal and post-recruitment survival drive recovery from recurrent disturbances, including mass bleaching and mortality. Consequently, genetic diversity and associated patterns of connectivity are maintained through time in the broader metapopulation. The results highlight an inherent resilience in these globally threatened species of coral and showcase their ability to cope with multiple disturbances, given enough time to recover is permitted. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T12:37:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-839e56e53a5f481789daf41b27540e52 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2399-3642 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T12:37:23Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-839e56e53a5f481789daf41b27540e522024-04-07T11:27:29ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422024-04-01711610.1038/s42003-024-06100-0Resilience to periodic disturbances and the long-term genetic stability in Acropora coralL. Thomas0D. Şahin1A. S. Adam2C. M. Grimaldi3N. M. Ryan4S. L. Duffy5J. N. Underwood6W. J. Kennington7J. P. Gilmour8Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research CentreAustralian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research CentreAustralian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research CentreAustralian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research CentreAustralian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research CentreAustralian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research CentreAustralian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research CentreUWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western AustraliaAustralian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research CentreAbstract Climate change is restructuring natural ecosystems. The direct impacts of these events on biodiversity and community structure are widely documented, but the impacts on the genetic variation of populations remains largely unknown. We monitored populations of Acropora coral on a remote coral reef system in northwest Australia for two decades and through multiple cycles of impact and recovery. We combined these demographic data with a temporal genetic dataset of a common broadcast spawning corymbose Acropora to explore the spatial and temporal patterns of connectivity underlying recovery. Our data show that broad-scale dispersal and post-recruitment survival drive recovery from recurrent disturbances, including mass bleaching and mortality. Consequently, genetic diversity and associated patterns of connectivity are maintained through time in the broader metapopulation. The results highlight an inherent resilience in these globally threatened species of coral and showcase their ability to cope with multiple disturbances, given enough time to recover is permitted.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06100-0 |
| spellingShingle | L. Thomas D. Şahin A. S. Adam C. M. Grimaldi N. M. Ryan S. L. Duffy J. N. Underwood W. J. Kennington J. P. Gilmour Resilience to periodic disturbances and the long-term genetic stability in Acropora coral Communications Biology |
| title | Resilience to periodic disturbances and the long-term genetic stability in Acropora coral |
| title_full | Resilience to periodic disturbances and the long-term genetic stability in Acropora coral |
| title_fullStr | Resilience to periodic disturbances and the long-term genetic stability in Acropora coral |
| title_full_unstemmed | Resilience to periodic disturbances and the long-term genetic stability in Acropora coral |
| title_short | Resilience to periodic disturbances and the long-term genetic stability in Acropora coral |
| title_sort | resilience to periodic disturbances and the long term genetic stability in acropora coral |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06100-0 |
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