Does depth divide? Variable genetic connectivity patterns among shallow and mesophotic Montastraea cavernosa coral populations across the Gulf of Mexico and western Caribbean
Abstract Despite general declines in coral reef ecosystems in the tropical western Atlantic, some reefs, including mesophotic reefs (30–150 m), are hypothesized to function as coral refugia due to their relative isolation from anthropogenic stressors. Understanding the connectivity dynamics among th...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10622 |
| _version_ | 1797448604234809344 |
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| author | Alexis B. Sturm Ryan J. Eckert Ashley M. Carreiro Allison M. Klein Michael S. Studivan Danielle Dodge Farelli Nuno Simões Patricia González‐Díaz Juliett González Méndez Joshua D. Voss |
| author_facet | Alexis B. Sturm Ryan J. Eckert Ashley M. Carreiro Allison M. Klein Michael S. Studivan Danielle Dodge Farelli Nuno Simões Patricia González‐Díaz Juliett González Méndez Joshua D. Voss |
| author_sort | Alexis B. Sturm |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Despite general declines in coral reef ecosystems in the tropical western Atlantic, some reefs, including mesophotic reefs (30–150 m), are hypothesized to function as coral refugia due to their relative isolation from anthropogenic stressors. Understanding the connectivity dynamics among these putative refugia and more degraded reefs is critical to develop effective management strategies that promote coral metapopulation persistence and recovery. This study presents a geographically broad assessment of shallow (<30 m) and mesophotic (>30 m) connectivity dynamics of the depth‐generalist coral species Montastraea cavernosa. Over 750 coral genets were collected across the Northwest and Southern Gulf of Mexico, Florida, Cuba, and Belize, and ~5000 SNP loci were generated to quantify high‐resolution genetic structure and connectivity among these populations. Generally, shallow and mesophotic populations demonstrated higher connectivity to distant populations within the same depth zone than to adjacent populations across depth zones. However, exceptions to this pattern include the Northwest Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Keys which exhibited relatively high vertical genetic connectivity. Furthermore, estimates of recent gene flow emphasize that mesophotic M. cavernosa populations are not significant sources for their local shallow counterparts, except for the Northwest Gulf of Mexico populations. Location‐based differences in vertical connectivity are likely a result of diverse oceanographic and environmental conditions that may drive variation in gene flow and depth‐dependent selection. These results highlight the need to evaluate connectivity dynamics and refugia potential of mesophotic coral species on a population‐by‐population basis and to identify stepping‐stone populations that warrant incorporation in future international management approaches. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:13:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-98ca4766ebec4b06916a8e9f6cf3c342 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:13:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-98ca4766ebec4b06916a8e9f6cf3c3422023-11-29T05:44:08ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582023-11-011311n/an/a10.1002/ece3.10622Does depth divide? Variable genetic connectivity patterns among shallow and mesophotic Montastraea cavernosa coral populations across the Gulf of Mexico and western CaribbeanAlexis B. Sturm0Ryan J. Eckert1Ashley M. Carreiro2Allison M. Klein3Michael S. Studivan4Danielle Dodge Farelli5Nuno Simões6Patricia González‐Díaz7Juliett González Méndez8Joshua D. Voss9Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Florida Atlantic University Fort Pierce Florida USAHarbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Florida Atlantic University Fort Pierce Florida USAHarbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Florida Atlantic University Fort Pierce Florida USAHarbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Florida Atlantic University Fort Pierce Florida USAHarbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Florida Atlantic University Fort Pierce Florida USAHarbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Florida Atlantic University Fort Pierce Florida USAUnidad Multidisciplinaria de Docencia e Investigación–Sisal, Facultad de Ciencias Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México Sisal Yucatán MexicoCentro de Investigaciones Marinas Universidad de La Habana La Habana CubaCentro Nacional de Áreas Protegidas La Habana CubaHarbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Florida Atlantic University Fort Pierce Florida USAAbstract Despite general declines in coral reef ecosystems in the tropical western Atlantic, some reefs, including mesophotic reefs (30–150 m), are hypothesized to function as coral refugia due to their relative isolation from anthropogenic stressors. Understanding the connectivity dynamics among these putative refugia and more degraded reefs is critical to develop effective management strategies that promote coral metapopulation persistence and recovery. This study presents a geographically broad assessment of shallow (<30 m) and mesophotic (>30 m) connectivity dynamics of the depth‐generalist coral species Montastraea cavernosa. Over 750 coral genets were collected across the Northwest and Southern Gulf of Mexico, Florida, Cuba, and Belize, and ~5000 SNP loci were generated to quantify high‐resolution genetic structure and connectivity among these populations. Generally, shallow and mesophotic populations demonstrated higher connectivity to distant populations within the same depth zone than to adjacent populations across depth zones. However, exceptions to this pattern include the Northwest Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Keys which exhibited relatively high vertical genetic connectivity. Furthermore, estimates of recent gene flow emphasize that mesophotic M. cavernosa populations are not significant sources for their local shallow counterparts, except for the Northwest Gulf of Mexico populations. Location‐based differences in vertical connectivity are likely a result of diverse oceanographic and environmental conditions that may drive variation in gene flow and depth‐dependent selection. These results highlight the need to evaluate connectivity dynamics and refugia potential of mesophotic coral species on a population‐by‐population basis and to identify stepping‐stone populations that warrant incorporation in future international management approaches.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.106222bRADcoral refugiagenetic connectivityGulf of Mexicomesophotic coral ecosystemswestern Caribbean |
| spellingShingle | Alexis B. Sturm Ryan J. Eckert Ashley M. Carreiro Allison M. Klein Michael S. Studivan Danielle Dodge Farelli Nuno Simões Patricia González‐Díaz Juliett González Méndez Joshua D. Voss Does depth divide? Variable genetic connectivity patterns among shallow and mesophotic Montastraea cavernosa coral populations across the Gulf of Mexico and western Caribbean Ecology and Evolution 2bRAD coral refugia genetic connectivity Gulf of Mexico mesophotic coral ecosystems western Caribbean |
| title | Does depth divide? Variable genetic connectivity patterns among shallow and mesophotic Montastraea cavernosa coral populations across the Gulf of Mexico and western Caribbean |
| title_full | Does depth divide? Variable genetic connectivity patterns among shallow and mesophotic Montastraea cavernosa coral populations across the Gulf of Mexico and western Caribbean |
| title_fullStr | Does depth divide? Variable genetic connectivity patterns among shallow and mesophotic Montastraea cavernosa coral populations across the Gulf of Mexico and western Caribbean |
| title_full_unstemmed | Does depth divide? Variable genetic connectivity patterns among shallow and mesophotic Montastraea cavernosa coral populations across the Gulf of Mexico and western Caribbean |
| title_short | Does depth divide? Variable genetic connectivity patterns among shallow and mesophotic Montastraea cavernosa coral populations across the Gulf of Mexico and western Caribbean |
| title_sort | does depth divide variable genetic connectivity patterns among shallow and mesophotic montastraea cavernosa coral populations across the gulf of mexico and western caribbean |
| topic | 2bRAD coral refugia genetic connectivity Gulf of Mexico mesophotic coral ecosystems western Caribbean |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10622 |
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