The shrunk genetic diversity of coral populations in North-Central Patagonia calls for management and conservation plans for marine resources.

ABSTRACT: The Chilean Patagonia is a complex puzzle of numerous fjords, channels, bays, estuaries, and islands. The largest part of it is very remote, hampering the generation of scientific knowledge and effective management planning that could balance conservation of the marine resources with the increasing development of aquaculture activities. The present study focuses on the deep-water emergent cold-water coral Desmophyllum dianthus, dwelling in Chilean Patagonia, with the aim to illustrate its population genetic structure, demography and adaptation of the species along this coast. Microsatellite loci analysis included D. dianthus individuals from twelve sampling localities along bathymetric and oceanographic gradients from the latitude 40°S to 48°S. The results showed a lack of genetic structur

SUBMITTER: Addamo AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9437062 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature