Fine-scale genetic structuring in Corallium rubrum: evidence of inbreeding and limited effective larval dispersal

Abstract

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 340:109-119 (2007) - doi:10.3354/meps340109 -Fine-scale genetic structuring in Corallium rubrum: evidence of inbreeding and limited effective larval dispersal Federica Costantini*, Cécile Fauvelot, Marco Abbiati Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca per le Scienze Ambientali and Dipartimento di Biologia Evoluzionistica Sperimentale, University of Bologna, Via S. Alberto 163, 48100 Ravenna, Italy *Email: federica.costantini@unibo.it ABSTRACT: The red coral Corallium rubrum has a long history of intensive exploitation. As a consequence, most populations have been overharvested, which may be leading to reduced levels of genetic diversity. C. rubrum is a gorgonian distributed in the Mediterranean Sea and along the neighbouring Atlantic coasts, with brooding larvae which disperse only over short distances. Such limited dispersal of larvae suggests that gene flow is restricted in this species, but no experimental evidence is yet available. In the present study, small spatial scale genetic structuring was analysed in C. rubrum samples collected in the Ligurian Sea using a hierarchical sampling design, including scales from 10s to 100s of metres. The genetic variation of each colony was analysed using 4 microsatellite loci. Significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium due to elevated heterozygote deficiencies were detected in all samples and were consistent with the occurrence of inbreeding and a Wahlund effect. Significant levels of genetic differentiation were found both between locations (FST = 0.209 ± 0.02) and among samples within each location (FST range = 0.025 to 0.082). Our results indicate the occurrence of significant genetic structuring at spatial scales of 10s of metres, supporting the hypothesis that planulae have a limited effective dispersal ability. The occurrence of structured breeding units and differences in genetic diversity among samples also suggest that strategies for sustainable management and conservation of red coral should be defined at a local scale. KEY WORDS: Population structure · Microsatellites · Gene flow · Inbreeding · Wahlund effect · Larval dispersal · Corallium rubrum Full text in pdf format PreviousNextExport citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 340. Online publication date: June 18, 2007 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2007 Inter-Research.