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 491:101-109 (2013) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10480 Genetic diversity and differentiation among high-latitude broadcast-spawning coral populations disjunct from the core range Annika M. E. Noreen1,2,*, Madeleine J. H. van Oppen1, Peter L. Harrison2 1Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville MC, Queensland 4810, Australia 2Marine Ecology Research Centre, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore, New South Wales 2480, Australia *Email: anoreen@gmail.com ABSTRACT: Little is known regarding the maintenance of range-edge populations in the absence of gene flow from core populations. In this study, we used 7 microsatellite markers to investigate genetic diversity and differentiation of the broadcast-spawning coral species Acropora solitaryensis among range-edge populations that are disjunct from the core range, and cautiously infer what this means in terms of connectivity. Acropora solitaryensis in sub-tropical eastern Australia is effectively isolated from conspecifics thousands of kilometers away and cannot rely on immigration from core populations for population maintenance. The range-edge region in this study consists of nearshore (Solitary Island) and offshore (Lord Howe Island) populations separated by >630 km. Despite the presence of null alleles, genetic diversity was within the range of that observed in other Acropora species. Nearshore and offshore populations were found to be genetically differentiated, with some indication of a small number of long-distant migrants in both directions. From both a demographic and a genetic perspective, this result may be important for the long-term persistence of A. solitaryensis at this range edge. KEY WORDS: Acropora solitaryensis · Range edge · Long-distance dispersal · Genetic maintenance · Disjunct distribution Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Noreen AME, van Oppen MJH, Harrison PL (2013) Genetic diversity and differentiation among high-latitude broadcast-spawning coral populations disjunct from the core range. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 491:101-109. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10480 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 491. Online publication date: October 02, 2013 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2013 Inter-Research.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
