Spatial Structure and Genetic Variation of a Mangrove Species (<i>Avicennia marina</i> (Forssk.) Vierh) in the Farasan Archipelago
<i>Avicennia marina</i> (Forssk.) Vierh is distributed in patches along the Farasan archipelago coast and is the most common mangrove species in the Red Sea. However, to date, no studies have been directed towards understanding its genetic variation in the Farasan archipelago. In this in...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/12/1287 |
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| author | Rahmah N. Al-Qthanin Samah A. Alharbi |
| author_facet | Rahmah N. Al-Qthanin Samah A. Alharbi |
| author_sort | Rahmah N. Al-Qthanin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Avicennia marina</i> (Forssk.) Vierh is distributed in patches along the Farasan archipelago coast and is the most common mangrove species in the Red Sea. However, to date, no studies have been directed towards understanding its genetic variation in the Farasan archipelago. In this investigation, genetic variations within and among natural populations of <i>Avicennia marina</i> in the Farasan archipelago were studied using 15 microsatellite markers. The study found 142 alleles on 15 loci in nine populations. The observed (Ho) and expected (He) heterozygosity values were 0.351 and 0.391, respectively, which are much lower than those of earlier studies on <i>A. marina</i> in the Arabian Gulf. An inbreeding effect from self-pollination might explain its heterozygote deficiency. Population genetic differentiation (F<sub>ST</sub> = 0.301) was similar to other mangrove species. Our findings suggest that the sea current direction and coastal geomorphology might affect genetic dispersal of <i>A. marina</i>. The more isolated populations with fewer connections by sea currents exhibited lower genetic variation and differentiation between populations. The genetic clustering of populations fell into three main groups—Group 1 (populations of Farasan Alkabir Island), Group 2 (populations of Sajid Island), and Group 3 (mix of one population of Farasan Alkabir Island and a population of Zifaf Island). More genetic variation and less genetic differentiation occurred when the population was not isolated and had a direct connection with sea currents. Both of these factors contributed to limited propagule dispersal and produced significant structures among the population. It is expected that the results of this research will be useful in determining policy and species-conservation strategies and in the rehabilitation of <i>A. marina</i> mangrove stands on the Farasan islands in an effort to save this significant natural resource. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:27:26Z |
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| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:27:26Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-b56cc2191a8a4aa49b62071598160d3f2023-11-20T22:54:44ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072020-11-011112128710.3390/f11121287Spatial Structure and Genetic Variation of a Mangrove Species (<i>Avicennia marina</i> (Forssk.) Vierh) in the Farasan ArchipelagoRahmah N. Al-Qthanin0Samah A. Alharbi1Biology Department, College of Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi ArabiaBiology Department, College of Applied Sciences, Umm-Al-Qura University, Makkah 21421, Saudi Arabia<i>Avicennia marina</i> (Forssk.) Vierh is distributed in patches along the Farasan archipelago coast and is the most common mangrove species in the Red Sea. However, to date, no studies have been directed towards understanding its genetic variation in the Farasan archipelago. In this investigation, genetic variations within and among natural populations of <i>Avicennia marina</i> in the Farasan archipelago were studied using 15 microsatellite markers. The study found 142 alleles on 15 loci in nine populations. The observed (Ho) and expected (He) heterozygosity values were 0.351 and 0.391, respectively, which are much lower than those of earlier studies on <i>A. marina</i> in the Arabian Gulf. An inbreeding effect from self-pollination might explain its heterozygote deficiency. Population genetic differentiation (F<sub>ST</sub> = 0.301) was similar to other mangrove species. Our findings suggest that the sea current direction and coastal geomorphology might affect genetic dispersal of <i>A. marina</i>. The more isolated populations with fewer connections by sea currents exhibited lower genetic variation and differentiation between populations. The genetic clustering of populations fell into three main groups—Group 1 (populations of Farasan Alkabir Island), Group 2 (populations of Sajid Island), and Group 3 (mix of one population of Farasan Alkabir Island and a population of Zifaf Island). More genetic variation and less genetic differentiation occurred when the population was not isolated and had a direct connection with sea currents. Both of these factors contributed to limited propagule dispersal and produced significant structures among the population. It is expected that the results of this research will be useful in determining policy and species-conservation strategies and in the rehabilitation of <i>A. marina</i> mangrove stands on the Farasan islands in an effort to save this significant natural resource.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/12/1287<i>Avicennia marina</i>genetic variationconservationthe Farasan archipelagogenetic structure |
| spellingShingle | Rahmah N. Al-Qthanin Samah A. Alharbi Spatial Structure and Genetic Variation of a Mangrove Species (<i>Avicennia marina</i> (Forssk.) Vierh) in the Farasan Archipelago Forests <i>Avicennia marina</i> genetic variation conservation the Farasan archipelago genetic structure |
| title | Spatial Structure and Genetic Variation of a Mangrove Species (<i>Avicennia marina</i> (Forssk.) Vierh) in the Farasan Archipelago |
| title_full | Spatial Structure and Genetic Variation of a Mangrove Species (<i>Avicennia marina</i> (Forssk.) Vierh) in the Farasan Archipelago |
| title_fullStr | Spatial Structure and Genetic Variation of a Mangrove Species (<i>Avicennia marina</i> (Forssk.) Vierh) in the Farasan Archipelago |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spatial Structure and Genetic Variation of a Mangrove Species (<i>Avicennia marina</i> (Forssk.) Vierh) in the Farasan Archipelago |
| title_short | Spatial Structure and Genetic Variation of a Mangrove Species (<i>Avicennia marina</i> (Forssk.) Vierh) in the Farasan Archipelago |
| title_sort | spatial structure and genetic variation of a mangrove species i avicennia marina i forssk vierh in the farasan archipelago |
| topic | <i>Avicennia marina</i> genetic variation conservation the Farasan archipelago genetic structure |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/12/1287 |
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