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Local and regional scale habitat heterogeneity contribute to genetic adaptation in a commercially important marine mollusc ( Haliotis rubra ) from southeastern Australia
Author(s) -
Miller Adam D.,
Hoffmann Ary A.,
Tan Mun Hua,
Young Mary,
Ahrens Collin,
Cocomazzo Michael,
Rattray Alex,
Ierodiaconou Daniel A.,
Treml Eric,
Sherman Craig D. H.
Publication year - 2019
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.15128
Subject(s) - biology , local adaptation , ecology , habitat , abalone , population , genetic structure , genetic divergence , spatial ecology , haliotis , marine protected area , genetic variation , fishery , genetic diversity , biochemistry , demography , sociology , gene
Abstract Characterising adaptive genetic divergence among conspecific populations is often achieved by studying genetic variation across defined environmental gradients. In marine systems this is challenging due to a paucity of information on habitat heterogeneity at local and regional scales and a dependency on sampling regimes that are typically limited to broad longitudinal and latitudinal environmental gradients. As a result, the spatial scales at which selection processes operate and the environmental factors that contribute to genetic adaptation in marine systems are likely to be unclear. In this study we explore patterns of adaptive genetic structuring in a commercially‐ harvested abalone species ( Haliotis rubra ) from southeastern Australia, using a panel of genome‐wide SNP markers (5,239 SNPs), and a sampling regime informed by marine LiDAR bathymetric imagery and 20‐year hindcasted oceanographic models. Despite a lack of overall genetic structure across the sampling distribution, significant genotype associations with heterogeneous habitat features were observed at local and regional spatial scales, including associations with wave energy, ocean current, sea surface temperature, and geology. These findings provide insights into the potential resilience of the species to changing marine climates and the role of migration and selection on recruitment processes, with implications for conservation and fisheries management. This study points to the spatial scales at which selection processes operate in marine systems and highlights the benefits of geospatially‐informed sampling regimes for overcoming limitations associated with marine population genomic research.