Aquatic Environment and Biodiversity Annual Review 2012

AEBAR 2012: Marine Biodiversity
for the development and application of microsatellite markers to quantify the population
genetic structure and the coastal connectivity of these taxa (Gardner et al. 2010).
Two PhD students are carrying out field work, genetic analyses, and writing up (in the form
of two theses) of this research. Both studies are underway. Fieldwork has begun on two
flatfish species and two species of shellfish. The project been extended to incorporate a
subtidal species of shellfish. A new component of the coastal connectivity project has been
added to include work on the New Zealand scallop, Pecten novaezelandiae. This work focuses
on population genetic structure and genetic connectivity at two different spatial scales and
uses microsatellite markers (consistent with the use of microsatellite markers for the 4 species
already under investigation in the original ZBD2009-10 project). First, the extension work
focusses on scallops in the Hauraki Gulf and Coromandel Peninsula region. Scallops have
been collected from several populations in this region and further samples will be added in the
next two years. Second, the extension work focuses on scallops across New Zealand (the full
range of this species’ distribution). Samples have been sourced from several regions including
the fiords, the far north, and central New Zealand. In both cases, genetic connectivity will be
assessed to determine linkages among populations at the two different spatial scales. The
smaller spatial scale information will be of particular relevance to the scallop fishery in the
Hauraki Gulf and Coromandel Peninsula region, whereas the larger scale work will
complement ongoing studies of coastal connectivity at the national scale already under
examination as part of the project. A PhD student has been recruited for this work and a suite
of microsatellite markers has been developed for the New Zealand scallop and testing of
population genetic variation is underway
Other research relevant or specifically linked to the projects above, are listed in Table 11.4.
Table 11.4: Other research linked to marine genetic biodiversity.
MPI ENH2007-01 Stock enhancement of blackfoot paua
GEN2007-01 Genetic population profile of blackfoot paua
ENH2007-02 Outbreeding depression in invertebrate populations
IPY2007-01 Objective 11. Barcode of life
MBIE C01X0502 Biodiversity& Biosecurity
MPI Base line surveys for non-indigenous species
OTHER Universities [?]
BRAG PROJECTS FOR 2011-12
Extension to ZBD2009-10 to include subtidal shellfish
EMERGING ISSUES
Can genetics combined with hydrographic models usefully contribute to the identification of biodiversity hotspots
and/or to source-sink relationships within ecosystems?
11.3.5. Progress on Science Objective 5. Effects of climate change
and variability on marine biodiversity
Cyclical changes or trends in climate and oceanography and associated effects such as increased
ocean acidification and how they affect the marine ecosystem as a whole have long-term implications
for trophic interactions and biodiversity, as well as functional aspects of the system e.g.
biogeochemical processes. With significant improvement in remote sensing tools and global
monitoring of climate change, new patterns are emerging indicating that there are long-term cycles.
Examples include the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation as well as shorter periods of change in relation
to the El Niño Southern Oscillation that affect ocean ecosystems. Further, physical phenomena such
as the deep subtropical gyre ‘spin-up’ in the South Pacific which resulted in a warmer ocean around
New Zealand from 1996–2002, can have flow-on effects on ecosystem functioning.
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