Genetic differentiation between estuarine and open coast ecotypes of a dominant ecosystem engineer
M. A. Coleman A B E , J. S. Clark C , M. A. Doblin C , M. J. Bishop D and B. P. Kelaher B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Primary Industries, NSW Fisheries, PO Box 4321, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia.
B National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University, 2 Bay Drive, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2350, Australia.
C Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.
D Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: melinda.coleman@gmail.com
Marine and Freshwater Research 70(7) 977-985 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF17392
Submitted: 22 December 2017 Accepted: 28 June 2018 Published: 18 September 2018
Abstract
Temperate intertidal shores globally are often dominated by habitat-forming seaweeds, but our knowledge of these systems is heavily biased towards northern hemisphere species. Rocky intertidal shores throughout Australia and New Zealand are dominated by a single monotypic species, Hormosira banksii. This species plays a key role in facilitating biodiversity on both rocky shores and estuarine habitats, yet we know little about the processes that structure populations. Herein we characterise the genetic diversity and structure of Hormosira and demonstrate strong restrictions to gene flow over small spatial scales, as well as between estuarine and open coast populations. Estuarine ecotypes were often genetically unique from nearby open coast populations, possibly due to extant reduced gene flow between habitats, founder effects and coastal geomorphology. Deviations from random mating in many locations suggest complex demographic processes are at play within shores, including clonality in estuarine populations. Strong isolation by distance in Hormosira suggests that spatial management of intertidal habitats will necessitate a network of broad-scale protection. Understanding patterns of genetic diversity and gene flow in this important ecosystem engineer will enhance the ability to manage, conserve and restore this key species into the future.
Additional keywords: asexual, clonality, diversity, foundation species, gene flow, Hormosira banksii, intertidal.
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