Limited contemporary gene flow and high self-replenishment drives peripheral isolation in an endemic coral reef fish.

ABSTRACT: Extensive ongoing degradation of coral reef habitats worldwide has lead to declines in abundance of coral reef fishes and local extinction of some species. Those most vulnerable are ecological specialists and endemic species. Determining connectivity between locations is vital to understanding recovery and long-term persistence of these species following local extinction. This study explored population connectivity in the ecologically-specialized endemic three-striped butterflyfish (Chaetodon tricinctus) using mt and msatDNA (nuclear microsatellites) to distinguish evolutionary versus contemporary gene flow, estimate self-replenishment and measure genetic diversity among locations at the remote Australian offshore coral reefs of Middleton Reef (MR), Elizabeth Reef (ER), Lord Howe Island (L

SUBMITTER: van der Meer MH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3686199 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature