Contrasting patterns of population structure and gene flow facilitate exploration of connectivity in two widely distributed temperate octocorals.

ABSTRACT: Connectivity is an important component of metapopulation dynamics in marine systems and can influence population persistence, migration rates and conservation decisions associated with Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). In this study, we compared the genetic diversity, gene flow and population structure of two octocoral species, Eunicella verrucosa and Alcyonium digitatum, in the northeast Atlantic (ranging from the northwest of Ireland and the southern North Sea, to southern Portugal), using two panels of 13 and 8 microsatellite loci, respectively. Our results identified regional genetic structure in E. verrucosa partitioned between populations from southern Portugal, northwest Ireland and Britain/France; subsequent hierarchical analysis of population structure also indicated reduced gene flo

SUBMITTER: Holland LP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5520136 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature