Heat-tolerant subtropical Porites lutea may be better adapted to future climate change than tropical one in the South China Sea

The Science of The Total Environment, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 962, С. 178381 - 178381

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2025

Язык: Английский

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Cryptic species and hybridisation in corals: challenges and opportunities for conservation and restoration

Опубликована: Фев. 14, 2024

Conservation and management of coral reef ecosystems will depend on accurate assessments reef-building species diversity. However, the true diversity corals may be obfuscated by presence cryptic species, which are likely much more pervasive than is currently recognised. Additionally, sometimes hybridize, resulting in gene introgression between species. Here, we investigate prevalence via a structured literature review find that over 50% population genomic studies show evidence for divisions within taxonomically recognised such closely-related taxa often linked flow. We frequently segregate environment, especially depth, differ phenotypic characteristics including resilience to heat stress. This hidden biodiversity creates challenges conservation restoration planning not well appreciated, hiding declines, biasing estimates species’ breadth, overestimating stressors, yielding uncertainty evolutionary dynamics inferred from past studies, creating reproductive barriers limit mating local translocated corals. Increasing awareness with incomplete boundaries common building this expectation into plans an important pathway forward. Rich opportunities interdisciplinary collaboration among speciation biologists could fill key knowledge gaps relevant conservation. detail recommendations best practice strategies identifying hybrids urge their consideration all future

Язык: Английский

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Future climate warming threatens coral reef function on World Heritage reefs

Global Change Biology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 30(7)

Опубликована: Июль 1, 2024

Abstract Climate change is the most significant threat to natural World Heritage (WH) sites, especially in oceans. Warming has devastated marine faunas, including reef corals, kelp, and seagrass. Here, we project future declines species ecosystem functions across Australia's four WH coral regions. Model simulations estimating species‐level abundances probabilities of ecological persistence were combined with trait space reconstructions at “present,” 2050 (+1.5°C warming), 2100 (+2°C) explore biogeographical overlaps identify key functional differences forecast changes function through time. Future climates varied by region, Shark Bay projected warm (>1.29°C), followed Lord Howe, when standardized park size. By 2050, ~40% Great Barrier Reef will exceed critical thresholds set warmest summer month (mean monthly maximum [MMM]), triggering mortality. Functional diversity was greatest Ningaloo. At +1.5°C warming, regions drastically their responses, declined 20.2% richness (~70 extinctions) lost all reefs. +2°C, models predicted a complete collapse functions, consistent IPCC forecasts. This variability suggests bespoke management approach needed for each region understanding vulnerability climate change, identifying thresholds, quantifying uncertainty impacts. knowledge aid focusing management, policy conservation actions direct resources, rapid action, biodiversity targets these reefs global priority. As reassemble into novel or different configurations, determining winners losers be meeting landmark goals.

Язык: Английский

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Population Genetic Structure of Three‐Spined Sticklebacks in the St. Lawrence: A Gradient of Change

Ecology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 15(4)

Опубликована: Апрель 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Understanding how environmental gradients shape population genetic structure is critical for elucidating evolutionary dynamics in heterogeneous landscapes. The St. Lawrence Estuary, spanning fluvial, middle, and marine zones, presents a steep salinity gradient that serves as an ideal setting to study such question. Three‐spined sticklebacks ( Gasterosteus aculeatus ) thrive across these offering model system investigate the interplay of gene flow natural selection shaping structure. Using whole‐genome resequencing from 12 sites, this aimed resolve fine‐scale diversity differentiation are influenced by flow. By integrating single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) structural variants (SVs), we assessed patterns, examined clinal variation, evaluated relative roles dynamics. Our findings reveal clear between fluvial saltwater populations, with Baie‐Saint‐Paul forming potential third group. Salinity emerged key driver structure, variation allele frequencies suggesting ongoing adaptation along gradient. Demographic modeling indicated history secondary contact recent weak Structural variants, particularly indels, complemented SNP‐based analyses, underscoring their importance detecting These results highlight complex forces biodiversity transitional environments, providing basis exploring local connected populations contributing broader efforts conservation genomics.

Язык: Английский

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Slight thermal stress exerts genetic diversity selection at coral (Acropora digitifera) larval stages

BMC Genomics, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 26(1)

Опубликована: Янв. 14, 2025

Abstract Background Rising seawater temperatures increasingly threaten coral reefs. The ability of larvae to withstand heat is crucial for maintaining reef ecosystems. Although several studies have investigated larvae’s genetic responses thermal stress, most relied on pooled sample sequencing, which provides population-level insights but may mask individual genotype variability. This study uses larval sequencing investigate genotype-specific stress and the selective pressures shaping their genomes, offering finer resolution deeper insights. Results investigates response before acquiring symbiotic algae, aiming elucidate relationship between diversity stress. Larvae sourced from eight Acropora digitifera colonies were subjected ambient temperature (28 °C) conditions (31 °C). impact was assessed through sequencing. While overall diversity, represented by π, did not significantly differ control heat-exposed groups, Tajima’s D differed, indicating different in each group. genomic regions under higher lower broadly shared among head conditions, implying that operated distinctive manners. Many protein-coding sequences identified this region, codon evolution many these genes showed signs positive selection. These results highlight complex temperatures. showing selection also been influenced historical fluctuations, as suggested association with loci during Acroporid speciation. codon-level speciation potential role adaptation environmental changes over evolutionary timescales. Conclusion findings underscore significance reproduction They indicate even minor can exert significant pressure, potentially leading profound implications research understanding rising

Язык: Английский

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Geographical patterns of intraspecific genetic diversity reflect the adaptive potential of the coral Pocillopora damicornis species complex

PLoS ONE, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 20(1), С. e0316380 - e0316380

Опубликована: Янв. 22, 2025

Marine heatwaves are increasing in intensity and frequency however, responses survival of reef corals vary geographically. Geographical differences thermal tolerance may be part a consequence intraspecific diversity, where high-diversity localities more likely to support heat-tolerant alleles that promote through stress. Here, we assessed geographical patterns genetic diversity the ubiquitous coral Pocillopora damicornis species complex using 428 sequences Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 (ITS2) region across 44 sites Pacific Indian Oceans. We focused on detecting hotspots, wherein some individuals possess gene variants tolerate marine heatwaves. A deep-learning, multi-layer neural-network model showed location played major role with mean sea-surface temperature oceanic regions being most influential predictor variables differentiating diversity. The highest estimate variation was recorded French Polynesia Southeast Asia. these reefs than elsewhere harbor adaptive potential survive climate change, so managers should prioritize when forming conservation goals.

Язык: Английский

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Comparative Genomics Points to Ecological Drivers of Genomic Divergence Among Intertidal Limpets

Molecular Ecology Resources, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Янв. 31, 2025

ABSTRACT Comparative genomic studies of closely related taxa are important for our understanding the causes divergence on a changing Earth. This being said, resources available marine intertidal molluscs limited and currently, there few publicly high‐quality annotated genomes species in general. Here we report transcriptome assemblies six Patellogastropoda genome annotations three these ( Scurria scurra , viridula zebrina ). analysis using suggest that recently diverging lineages (10–20 Mya) have experienced similar amounts contractions expansions but across different gene families. Furthermore, differences among diverged reflected variation amount coding noncoding material genomes, such as repetitive elements lengths transcripts introns exons. Additionally, functional ontologies species‐specific duplicated genes together with demographic inference support finding recent members genus aligns their unique ecological characteristics. Overall, presented here will be valuable future adaptation habitats whole.

Язык: Английский

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Seascape Genomics of Elacatinus punctiulatus (Ginsburg, 1938): Understanding the Historical and Contemporary Drivers of Population Structure in the Gulf of California

Molecular Ecology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Янв. 31, 2025

The genomic diversity and population structure of marine species represents a complex mosaic shaped by historical contemporary environmental seascape features that maintain or alter it over time. Gulf California (GC) is an interior sea with dynamic history during its formation oceanographic complexity; hence, suitable system to test the effect factors on in species. We investigated redhead goby (Elacatinus puncticulatus; Ginsburg, 1938), cryptobenthic fish, gain insights into drivers shaping GC. A total 4802 SNPs markers were analysed, 3775 loci classified as neutral 27 outlier potentially under selection. Both demonstrated structure, showing two main groups corresponding northern southern locatities. identified additional genetic group emerging central area sampled localities. Genetic differentiation between North South regions demographic simulations was consistent ancient divergence (1.04 Mya) secondary contact (0.15 Mya). association analysis revealed possible adaptive scenario linked ocean temperature. study highlights importance events, factors, circulation E. puncticulatus populations

Язык: Английский

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Cryptic species and hybridisation in corals: challenges and opportunities for conservation and restoration

Peer Community Journal, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 4

Опубликована: Ноя. 14, 2024

The conservation and management of coral reef ecosystems will benefit from accurate assessments reef-building species diversity. However, the true diversity corals may be obfuscated by cryptic yet genetically distinct groups, which are likely more pervasive than currently recognised. Here, we investigate prevalence groups assess evidence for their permeability to gene flow (hybridisation) via a structured literature review genomic studies. Using reproducible criteria detect genetic that sympatric, find 68% nominal represented in population studies show comprising partially reproductively isolated these often linked flow. Cryptic frequently segregate environment, especially depth, differ phenotypic characteristics including resilience heat stress. This hidden biodiversity creates challenges restoration planning not well appreciated, hiding declines, biasing estimates species' breadth, overestimating stressors, yielding uncertainty evolutionary dynamics inferred past studies, implying reproductive barriers limit mating between local translocated corals. Incorporating expectation taxa with incomplete boundaries encountered is critical long-term success programs. Studying phenomena detail directly goals. Thus, recommendations best practice strategies identifying hybridisation. In addition, present an untapped resource studying speciation could provide rich opportunities collaboration among biologists fill key knowledge gaps relevant restoration.

Язык: Английский

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Global coral genomic vulnerability explains recent reef losses

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Год журнала: 2024, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Март 25, 2024

The dramatic decline of reef-building corals calls for a better understanding coral adaptation to ocean warming. Here, we characterized genetic diversity the widespread genus Acropora by building genomic database 547 samples from different oceanic regions—from Great Barrier Reef Persian Gulf. Through genome-environment associations, found that species showed evolutionary signals heat-adaptation in same regions, pointing genes associated with molecular heat shock responses and symbiosis. These adaptive were uncommon populations exposed less than two heatwaves, indicating potential vulnerability future exposure. We estimates corroborate local global patterns decline, used these reassess reef conservation risks priorities.

Язык: Английский

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