Population connectivity and genetic offset in the spawning coral Acropora digitifera in Western Australia.

ABSTRACT: Anthropogenic climate change has caused widespread loss of species biodiversity and ecosystem productivity across the globe, particularly on tropical coral reefs. Predicting the future vulnerability of reef-building corals, the foundation species of coral reef ecosystems, is crucial for cost-effective conservation planning in the Anthropocene. In this study, we combine regional population genetic connectivity and seascape analyses to explore patterns of genetic offset (the mismatch of gene-environmental associations under future climate conditions) in Acropora digitifera across 12 degrees of latitude in Western Australia. Our data revealed a pattern of restricted gene flow and limited genetic connectivity among geographically distant reef systems. Environmental association analyses identif

SUBMITTER: Adam AAS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9328316 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature