11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

14.453
Genetic Diversity And Clonal Structure Of The Cold-Water Coral lophelia
Pertusa in Ne Skagerrak
Mikael DAHL* 1 , Carl ANDRÉ 1
1 Department of Marine Ecology, Göteborg University, Strömstad, Sweden
Lophelia pertusa is a scleractinian cold-water coral. It is very likely the most widespread
coral and in the northeast Atlantic it is the main reef building species. The main depth
distribution is between 200 and 1000 meters, but due to special conditions in fjords it can
be found shallower than 100 meter. In northeast Skagerrak between Sweden and Norway
there are five reefs at 120-70 meters depth. These reefs have been sampled with a
remotely operated vehicle. A previous genetic analysis of Lophelia pertusa revealed a
moderate gene flow between the populations distributed along the European continental
margin and genetically isolated fjord populations. This study complements with a
description of genetic diversity and structure at a fine-scale.
A major difference between shallow-water and cold-water corals is the number of
species that build-up the reef structure. Whereas tropical reefs usually are composed of
many different corals species, are deep-water reefs often built-up by one single species.
Lophelia pertusa is therefore regarded as an autogenic engineer or a key structural
species. The largest reef, the Tisler reef, 1200 meters in length has been extensively
sampled in order to generate a clone map. No one has to my knowledge never made an
attempt or been able to shown how genetic individuals are distributed throughout a coldwater
coral reef.
14.454
Regional Specific Relationships Of Species in The Genus favia
Hironobu FUKAMI* 1 , Keiichi NOMURA 2 , Kenji IWAO 3 , Takeshi HAYASHIBARA 4 ,
Go SUZUKI 5 , Fumihito IWASE 6 , Nancy KNOWLTON 7
1 Seto Marine Biological Laboratory, Kyoto University, Nishimuro, Japan, 2 Kushimoto
Marine Park, Higashimuro, Japan, 3 Akajima Marine Science Laboratory, Zamami, Japan,
4 Seikai National Fisheries Research Institute, Ishigaki, Japan, 5 Kyoto University,
Nishimuro, Japan,
6
Kurohio Biological Research Foundation, Otsuki, Japan,
7
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC
The genus Favia as conventionally defined, is globally one of the most important reefbuilding
corals, although it is now recognized that Pacific and Atlantic members of the
genus are not closely related. Pacific ″Favia″ have not been well studied, despite their
diversity. One important obstacle is the difficulty of species identification due to the high
intra-specific morphological variation and probably hybridization. In this study, to define
the species boundaries, evaluate the possibility of hybridization, and examine regional
differences and connectivity, we analyzed Favia through the subtropical to the temperate
region in Japan using molecular techniques. Most species we analyzed were genetically
distinct from one another and regional differences within species were not observed.
However a few species including F. speciosa and F. palida, were genetically
indistinguishable. Therefore, we treated them as the F. speciosa complex and investigated
their reproductive biology (spawning time and possibility of hybridization in laboratory
crosses) in both subtropical and temperate regions. The crossing experiments revealed the
existence of two to three groups with incomplete reproductive isolation in each region.
Moreover, species forming these groups were likely different in each region although
species identification is difficult due to the non-typical morphological characters. Also
these crossing groups strongly reflected the differences in spawning times. Thus, the
situation of some Favia species is quite complicated, with the possibility of regionally
specific complexes of partially isolated taxa and cryptic species.
Poster Mini-Symposium 14: Reef Connectivity
14.455
Population Genetic Structure Of The Crown-Of-Thorns Starfish, Acanthaster Planci (L.)
Across Indo-Pacific: Genetic Evidence For The Secondary Outbreaks?
Nina YASUDA* 1,2 , Satoshi NAGAI 2 , Masami HAMAGUCHI 2 , Lian CHUNLAN 3 , Ken
OKAJI 4 , Karin GERARD 5 , Kazuo NADAOKA 6
1 Mechanical and Environmental Informatics, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan,
2 National Research Institute of Fisheries and Environment of Inland Sea, Hatsukaichi, Japan,
3 Asian Natural Environmental Science Center, University of Tokyo, Nishitokyo, Japan,
4 CoralQuest Inc, Atsugi, Japan, 5 Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France, 6 Tokyo
Institute of Technology, Meguro, Japan
Outbreaks of the crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci, have been one of the major
management issues in coral reefs throughout Indo-Pacific region. Since it produces numerous
eggs and pelagic larvae, sudden increase in the survival rate of its larvae may result in the
abrupt increase in adult population called primary outbreaks, whereas propagation of the
outbreaks to other reefs, from the primary outbreaks via larval dispersion is assumed secondary
outbreaks. Although the nearly co-occurrence of recent population outbreaks in the western
Pacific supports this idea, the paucity of information on the genetic structure of this species has
hindered the understanding of the extent of connectivity. In this study we examined the genetic
structure of 24 populations across the Indo-Pacific using seven loci of highly polymorphic
microsatellites. A UPGMA dendrogram using Nei fs genetic distance (1978) detected seven
genetically distinct groups, i.e. the East African group (Kenya, Mayotte and Madagascar), North
Western Pacific group (Japan and Philippines), Palau, North central Pacific group (Majuro &
Pohnpei), South Western Pacific group (Great Barrier reefs), Fiji, South Central Pacific (French
Polynesia), with large genetic break between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. A significant
isolation by distance pattern was found across overall populations (p