Expansion of the mangrove species Rhizophora mucronata in the Western Indian Ocean launched contrasting genetic patterns.

ABSTRACT: Estimates of population structure and gene flow allow exploring the historical and contemporary processes that determine a species' biogeographic pattern. In mangroves, large-scale genetic studies to estimate gene flow have been conducted predominantly in the Indo-Pacific and Atlantic region. Here we examine the genetic diversity and connectivity of Rhizophora mucronata across a > 3,000 km coastal stretch in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) including WIO islands. Based on 359 trees from 13 populations and using 17 polymorphic microsatellite loci we detected genetic breaks between populations of the (1) East African coastline, (2) Mozambique Channel Area (3) granitic Seychelles, and (4) Aldabra and northern Madagascar. Genetic structure, diversity levels, and patterns of inferred connectivity

SUBMITTER: Triest L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7925526 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature