4.5 Article

Regional-scale genetic differentiation of the stony coral Desmophyllum dianthus in the southwest Pacific Ocean is consistent with regional-scale physico-chemical oceanography

Publisher

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.dsr.2022.103739

Keywords

Cold-water coral; Management; Marine protected areas; Connectivity; Seascape genetics; Larval dispersal modelling

Categories

Funding

  1. New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) [ZBD2013-02]
  2. New Zealand Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment through NIWA's South Pacific VME Project [C01X1229]
  3. Vulnerable Deep-Sea Communities [CO1X0906]
  4. MPI through the Chatham Rise Seamounts project [BEN2014-02]
  5. New Zealand/United States Joint Commission on Science and Technology Cooperation Marine and Ocean Theme
  6. New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE) [C01X1229] Funding Source: New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE)

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This study assessed the genetic diversity and gene flow of deep-sea corals in New Zealand's EEZ and the southwest Pacific Ocean. The research found significant genetic differentiation between regions, high levels of self-recruitment, and high connectivity between distant sites. The study also indicated that environmental variables related to physical seafloor habitat characteristics were important predictors of regional-scale genetic differentiation.
Deep-sea corals are diverse and abundant in New Zealand's EEZ and the southwest Pacific Ocean. We assessed genetic diversity and gene flow of the deep-sea scleractinian (stony cup coral) Desmophyllum dianthus in five areas (Kermadec Ridge, Louisville Seamount Chain, Chatham Rise, Campbell Plateau, Macquarie Ridge), and applied dispersal kernels estimated from drifters observations and seascape genetics to compare with observed connectivity patterns and regional physico-chemical data. We observed pronounced between-region genetic differentiation, high levels of self-recruitment, but also high connectivity between distant sites (e.g., at the Kermadec Ridge inside the New Zealand EEZ, and the Louisville Seamount Chain outside the New Zealand EEZ). Genetic diversity was marginally highest at the Kermadec Ridge, whilst populations on the Chatham Rise showed evidence of unique genetic diversity that may be driven by converging ocean currents. Overall, patterns of genetic connectivity were consistent with oceanographic predictions of dispersal routes. Seascape genetic analyses indicated that environmental variables most often related to physical seafloor habitat characteristics were important predictors of regional-scale genetic differentiation of D. dianthus. Our research shows that current spatial closures within the New Zealand EEZ and surrounding high seas areas do not encompass the extent of genetic diversity and connectivity for D. dianthus, which parallels research for other deep-sea taxa in the region. Future measures implemented to protect deep-sea coral biodiversity require consideration of complex connectivity patterns and migration routes amongst taxa, at various spatial scales. This study demonstrates that a combined gene flow, seascape genetics and dispersal kernel modelling approach can provide a robust evaluation of connectivity in deep-sea environments to inform management decision making at the scale of the southwest Pacific Ocean.

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