Genetic variability and fine-scale population structure in the threatened species Acropora palmata and Acropora cervicornis around Puerto Rico
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Abstract
The population genetic structure of the zooxanthellate corals Acropora palmata and A. cervicornis were used as a proxy to understand connectivity between reefs. Sequences of the mitochondrial control region were recovered from geographically adjacent and distant populations of A. palmata and A. cervicornis around Puerto Rico. AMOVA results from 220 A. palmata and 124 A. cervicornis colonies collected from 26 reefs of six localities suggest that significant population structure exists (ΦST=0.0863, P<0.00098; ΦST=0.1237, P<0.00587, for A. palmata and A. cervicornis, respectively). Significant ΦST’s between reefs of Puerto Rico suggest that there is fine scale population structure. Although these species displayed significant population structure, both species exhibited low levels of nucleotide diversity which is common for scleractinian corals. Recovery of reefs in southwestern Puerto Rico might rely on the survival and sexual reproduction of local populations rather than replenishment from distant reefs because of the high levels of population subdivision. La estructura genética poblacional de los corales zooxantelados Acropora palmata y A. cervicornis fue usada como indicador para estudiar la conectividad entre arrecifes. Secuencias de la región control mitocondrial fueron recuperadas de poblaciones geográficamente adyacentes y distantes de A. palmata y A. cervicornis alrededor de Puerto Rico. Resultados de AMOVA para 220 colonias de A. palmata y 124 colonias de A. cervicornis muestreadas en 26 arrecifes en seis localidades sugieren que existe una estructura poblacional significativa (ΦST=0.0863, P<0.00098; ΦST=0.1237, P<0.00587, para A. palmata y A. cervicornis, respectivamente). Valores de ΦST’s significativos entre arrecifes en Puerto Rico sugiere que existe estructura poblacional a menor escala. Aunque estas especies revelan estructura poblacional significativa, las dos especies exhibieron bajos niveles de variabilidad genética lo cual es común entre corales escleractínios. La recuperación de los arrecifes en el suroeste de Puerto Rico podría depender de la sobrevivencia y reproducción sexual de poblaciones locales en lugar del abastecimiento por arrecifes distantes debido a los altos niveles de subdivisión poblacional.
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