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No gene flow across the E astern P acific B arrier in the reef‐building coral P orites lobata
Author(s) -
Baums Iliana B.,
Boulay Jennifer N.,
Polato Nicholas R.,
Hellberg Michael E.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
molecular ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.619
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1365-294X
pISSN - 0962-1083
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2012.05733.x
Subject(s) - lobata , biological dispersal , population , coral , reef , biology , gadus , ecology , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , demography , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology , sociology , pueraria
The expanse of deep water between the c entral P acific islands and the continental shelf of the E astern T ropical P acific is regarded as the world's most potent marine biogeographic barrier. During recurrent climatic fluctuations ( ENSO , E l N iño S outhern O scillation), however, changes in water temperature and the speed and direction of currents become favourable for trans‐oceanic dispersal of larvae from central P acific to marginal e astern P acific reefs. Here, we investigate the population connectivity of the reef‐building coral P orites lobata across the E astern P acific B arrier ( EPB ). Patterns of recent gene flow in samples ( n = 1173) from the c entral P acific and the E astern T ropical P acific ( ETP ) were analysed with 12 microsatellite loci. Results indicated that P . lobata from the ETP are strongly isolated from those in the central P acific and Hawaii (F ct' = 0.509; P < 0.001). However, samples from C lipperton A toll, an oceanic island on the eastern side of the EPB , grouped with the central P acific. Within the c entral P acific, Hawaiian populations were strongly isolated from three co‐occurring clusters found throughout the remainder of the c entral P acific. No further substructure was evident in the ETP . Changes in oceanographic conditions during ENSO over the past several thousand years thus appear insufficient to support larval deliveries from the central P acific to the ETP or strong postsettlement selection acts on ETP settlers from the central P acific. Recovery of P . lobata populations in the frequently disturbed ETP thus must depend on local larval sources.