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The K uroshio C urrent influences genetic diversity and population genetic structure of a tropical seagrass, E nhalus acoroides
Author(s) -
Nakajima Yuichi,
Matsuki Yu,
Lian Chunlan,
Fortes Miguel D.,
Uy Wilfredo H.,
Campos Wilfredo L.,
Nakaoka Masahiro,
Nadaoka Kazuo
Publication year - 2014
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/mec.12996
Subject(s) - biology , genetic diversity , seagrass , range (aeronautics) , population , ecology , genetic structure , genetic variation , microsatellite , evolutionary biology , ecosystem , allele , genetics , gene , demography , materials science , sociology , composite material
Abstract Information on genetic diversity and differentiation of seagrass populations is essential for the conservation of coastal ecosystems. However, little is known about the seagrasses in the I ndo‐ W est P acific O cean, where the world's highest diversity of seagrasses occurs. The influence of sea currents on these populations is also unknown. We estimated the genetic diversity and population genetic structure and identified reproductive features in E nhalus acoroides populations from the Y aeyama I slands, H ainan I sland and the P hilippines. The P hilippines are situated at the centre of the E . acoroides range, Y aeyama and H ainan are peripheral populations, and the Y aeyama population is at the northern limit of the species range. The powerful K uroshio Current flows from the P hilippines to Y aeyama. Genetic analyses using nine microsatellite markers indicated that reproduction of E . acoroides is mostly sexual. Clonal diversity does not decrease in northern populations, although genetic diversity does. However, the genetic diversity of the Y aeyama populations is greater than that of the H ainan populations. Significant genetic differentiation among most populations was evident; however, the Y aeyama and north‐east P hilippines populations were genetically similar, despite being separated by ~1100 km. An assignment test suggested that recruitment occurs from the north‐east P hilippines to Y aeyama. The strong current in this region is probably responsible for the extant genetic diversity and recruitment patterns.