Global patterns and drivers of genetic diversity among marine habitat‐forming species

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 32(7), P. 1218 - 1229

Published: May 5, 2023

Abstract Aim Intraspecific genetic diversity is one of the pillars biodiversity, supporting resilience and evolutionary potential populations. Yet, our knowledge regarding patterns at macroecological scales, so‐called macrogenetic patterns, remains scarce, particularly in marine species. Marine habitat‐forming (MHF) species are key some most diverse but also impacted ecosystems, such as coral reefs forests. We characterize drivers MHF provide a baseline, which can be used for conservation planning future monitoring programmes. Location Global. Time period Contemporary. Major taxa studied Bryozoans, hexacorals, hydrozoans, octocorals, seagrasses, seaweeds, sponges. Methods analysed database including estimates based on microsatellites more than 9,000 georeferenced populations from 140 species, belong to seven animal plant taxa. Focusing expected heterozygosity, we generalized additive models test effect latitude, taxon, status. tested correlation between richness diversity. Results reveal significant complex biogeographic pattern characterized by bimodal latitudinal trend influenced taxonomy. report positive scale ecoregions. The difference protected unprotected areas was not significant. Main conclusions contrasting results animals plants suggest that observed idiosyncratic, reported terrestrial Our support existence shared diversities, remain formally identified. Concerning, these aligned existing network areas. Providing first baseline this study echoes call need consider biodiversity assessments management.

Language: Английский

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The Octocoral Trait Database: a global database of trait information for octocoral species

Scientific Data, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: Jan. 15, 2025

Abstract Trait-based approaches are revolutionizing our understanding of high-diversity ecosystems by providing insights into the principles underlying key ecological processes, such as community assembly, species distribution, resilience, and relationship between biodiversity ecosystem functioning. In 2016, Coral Trait Database advanced coral reef science centralizing trait information for stony corals (i.e., Subphylum Anthozoa, Class Hexacorallia, Order Scleractinia). However, absence data soft corals, gorgonians, sea pens Octocorallia) limits where these organisms significant members play pivotal roles. To address this gap, we introduce Octocoral Database, a global, open-source database curated octocorals. This houses species- individual-level data, complemented contextual that provides relevant framework analyses. The inaugural dataset, OctocoralTraits v2.2, contains over 97,500 global observations across 98 traits 3,500 species. aims to evolve steadily growing, community-led resource advances future marine science, with particular emphasis on research.

Language: Английский

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Lethal and sublethal effects of thermal stress on octocorals early life‐history stages

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 28(23), P. 7049 - 7062

Published: Sept. 15, 2022

The frequency and severity of marine heatwaves causing mass mortality events in tropical temperate coral species increases every year, with serious consequences on the stability resilience populations. Although recovery persistence populations after stress is closely related to adult fitness, as well larval survival settlement, much remains unknown about effects thermal early life-history stages species. In present study, reproductive phenology effect increased water temperature (+4°C +6°C above ambient, 20°C) settlement was evaluated for two most representative Mediterranean octocoral (Eunicella singularis Corallium rubrum). Our study shows that behavior more variable than previously reported breeding period occurs over a longer both Thermal did not affect symbiotic E. larvae but drastically reduced non-symbiotic C. rubrum larvae. Results biomass caloric consumption suggest higher rates exposed were depletion endogenous energy results also show change response elevated 20 days exposure, may settle fast close their native population at 26°C (+6°C). previous experimental studies found colonies are mostly resistant stress, our inter-connectivity local be severely compromised under continued trends ocean warming.

Language: Английский

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Differential apicomplexan presence predicts thermal stress mortality in the Mediterranean coral Paramuricea clavata

Environmental Microbiology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 26(1)

Published: Dec. 10, 2023

Abstract Paramuricea clavata is an ecosystem architect of the Mediterranean temperate reefs that currently threatened by episodic mass mortality events related to global warming. The microbiome may play active role in thermal stress susceptibility corals, potentially holding answer as why corals show differential sensitivity heat stress. To investigate this, prokaryotic and eukaryotic P. collected from around was characterised before experimental determine if its microbial composition influences response holobiont. We found members clavata's microeukaryotic community were significantly correlated with sensitivity. Syndiniales Dino‐Group I Clade 1 enriched thermally resistant while apicomplexan corallicolids susceptible corals. hypothesise following be caused a shift apparent commensalism parasitism corallicolid‐coral host relationship driven added Our results potential importance rest understanding provide useful tool guide conservation efforts future research into coral‐associated microeukaryotes.

Language: Английский

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The deep vault: a temporary refuge for temperate gorgonian forests facing marine heat waves

Mediterranean Marine Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 24(3), P. 601 - 609

Published: Nov. 17, 2023

Climate change poses a significant threat to coastal areas, marked by the increasing intensity and frequency of marine heat waves observed in various ecosystems around world. Over last 25 years, vast number Mediterranean populations red gorgonian Paramuricea clavata have been impacted heatwaves. The mass mortality occurred during summer 2022 Western Sea, affecting mostly shallow (down 30 m depth). Here we provide an assessment health status mesophotic P. down 90 depth investigate refuge hypothesis. Results show that impact decreases with depth, drop below 40 depth. These observations support hypothesis from may allow, at least temporarily, maintenance Sea. present study strongly advocates for further investigations monitoring zone chart potential areas could serve as deep gorgonians.

Language: Английский

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Recurrent Extreme Climatic Events Are Driving Gorgonian Populations to Local Extinction: Low Adaptive Potential to Marine Heatwaves

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 30(11)

Published: Nov. 1, 2024

ABSTRACT Extreme climatic events (ECEs), such as marine heatwaves (MHWs), are a major threat to biodiversity. Understanding the variability in ecological responses recurrent ECEs within species and underlying drivers arise key issue owing their implications for conservation population recovery. Yet, our knowledge on is limited since it has been frequently gathered following “single‐event approaches” focused one particular event. These approaches provide snapshots of but fall short capturing heterogeneity patterns that may occur among ECEs, questioning current predictions regarding biodiversity trends. Here, we adopt “multiple events” perspective characterize effects Paramuricea clavata , Mediterranean temperate coral threatened by MHWs. Through common‐garden experiment repeated three consecutive years with same individuals from populations, assessed respective roles environmental (year effect), genetic (population phenotypic (population‐by‐environment interactions effect) components response heat stress. The component (year) was main driver P . colonies across experiments. To build this result, showed that: (i) were not related (genetic isolation) individual (multilocus heterozygosity) make‐up, (ii) while all characterized high sensitivity (genotype‐by‐environment interactions) likely driven situ summer thermal regime. We confront experimental results monitoring conducted 2022 two MHWs (2018, 2022). This confirms targeted populations harbor adaptive plastic capacities on‐going might face unavoidable collapses shallow waters. Overall, underscore need consider recurrence assess threats forecast its evolution.

Language: Английский

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The effects of climate changes on Posidonia oceanica meadows in the Mediterranean Basin

Natural Resources Conservation and Research, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 6(1)

Published: May 5, 2023

Climate changes are affecting the fate of Posidonia oceanica meadows. Actually, Mediterranean Sea is threatened by abiotic, biotic and climate coupled with human pressures regarding coastal regions. In this way, able to counteract effects through high thermotolerance species, range shift processes meadows variations in community composition valuable marine ecosystem. Anyway, power acclimatization temperature shifts adaptative capacity against let suggest a positive trend long evolutionary pathway species.

Language: Английский

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Gradients of genetic diversity and differentiation across the distribution range of a Mediterranean coral: Patterns, processes and conservation implications

Diversity and Distributions, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 27(11), P. 2104 - 2123

Published: Sept. 15, 2021

Abstract Aim How historical and contemporary eco‐evolutionary processes shape the patterns of genetic diversity differentiation across species’ distribution range remains an open question with strong conservation implications. Focusing on orange stony coral, Astroides calycularis , we (a) characterized pattern neutral range; (b) gave insights into underlying processes; (c) discussed implications emphasis a national park located hotspot diversity. Location South Mediterranean Sea Zembra National Park. Methods We combined new data from 12 microsatellites in 13 populations Centre Western Periphery published dataset including 16 Eastern Peripheries. analysed relationship among parameters ( H e Ar (g) ) structure (population‐specific F ST two measures geographic peripherality. compared estimators pairwise G D EST range. The evolutionary demographic history following Last Glacial Maximum was reconstructed using approximate Bayesian computations maximum‐likelihood analyses. inferred connectivity Park neighbouring area Cap Bon. Results demonstrate decrease increase to Peripheries Populations show highest reported species. identified spillover effect towards Main conclusions are most likely explained by “the postglacial expansion hypothesis” rather than “central–peripheral hypothesis.” Enforcement should be considered protect this pattern, particular when considering low effective population size at many sites.

Language: Английский

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Ecosystem Collapse and Climate Change: An Introduction

Ecological studies, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 9

Published: Jan. 1, 2021

Language: Английский

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Ecological and genomic characterization of a remarkable natural heritage: a mesophotic ‘giant’ Paramuricea clavata forest

Marine Ecology Progress Series, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 728, P. 85 - 101

Published: Sept. 8, 2023

Paramuricea clavata is an ecosystem engineer, structuring hard bottom communities in the Mediterranean Sea, from 10 to 200 m depth. For more than 2 decades, shallow populations of P. have been impacted by marine heatwaves, resulting massive mortality events. Recently, a new dense population characterized tallest colonies ever recorded (up 1.80 m) Sea was discovered between 50 and 60 Here, we analyzed size genetic structure this ‘deep giant population’ conducted reciprocal transplant experiment with inhabiting same area test for local adaptation. The showed no significant difference survival rate despite high temperatures registered area. Nevertheless, observed differentiation depth area, low estimates gene flow. particular oceanographic conditions could lead relative isolation population. In conclusion, reduced connectivity newly shallower ones questions its potential role as climate refuge. Additionally, constitutes unique natural heritage site that should be effectively protected physical impacts other direct consequences anthropogenic activities.

Language: Английский

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