Potential Connectivity of Coldwater Black Coral Communities in the Northern Gulf of Mexico.

ABSTRACT: The black coral Leiopathes glaberrima is a foundation species of deep-sea benthic communities but little is known of the longevity of its larvae and the timing of spawning because it inhabits environments deeper than 50 m that are logistically challenging to observe. Here, the potential connectivity of L. glaberrima in the northern Gulf of Mexico was investigated using a genetic and a physical dispersal model. The genetic analysis focused on data collected at four sites distributed to the east and west of Mississippi Canyon, provided information integrated over many (~10,000) generations and revealed low but detectable realized connectivity. The physical dispersal model simulated the circulation in the northern Gulf at a 1km horizontal resolution with transport-tracking capabilities; virtu

SUBMITTER: Cardona Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4878809 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature