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Elucidating the multiple genetic lineages and population genetic structure of the brooding coral Seriatopora (Scleractinia: Pocilloporidae) in the Ryukyu Archipelago

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Abstract

The elucidation of species diversity and connectivity is essential for conserving coral reef communities and for understanding the characteristics of coral populations. To assess the species diversity, intraspecific genetic diversity, and genetic differentiation among populations of the brooding coral Seriatopora spp., we conducted phylogenetic and population genetic analyses using a mitochondrial DNA control region and microsatellites at ten sites in the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. At least three genetic lineages of Seriatopora (Seriatopora-A, -B, and -C) were detected in our specimens. We collected colonies morphologically similar to Seriatopora hystrix, but these may have included multiple, genetically distinct species. Although sexual reproduction maintains the populations of all the genetic lineages, Seriatopora-A and Seriatopora-C had lower genetic diversity than Seriatopora-B. We detected significant genetic differentiation in Seriatopora-B among the three populations as follows: pairwise F ST = 0.064–0.116 (all P = 0.001), pairwise G′′ST = 0.107–0.209 (all P = 0.001). Additionally, only one migrant from an unsampled population was genetically identified within Seriatopora-B. Because the peak of the settlement of Seriatopora larvae is within 1 d and almost all larvae are settled within 5 d of spawning, our observations may be related to low dispersal ability. Populations of Seriatopora in the Ryukyu Archipelago will probably not recover unless there is substantial new recruitment from distant populations.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a grant from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI (25840152 to Y.N.) and a Pro Natura Foundation grant for natural conservation of the Nansei Islands to Y.N. We express our gratitude for financial support from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University. We are grateful to anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on the manuscript. All coral specimens were collected in strict accordance with good animal practice as defined by the relevant national and/or local animal welfare bodies, and all sampling was conducted with the appropriate permissions within the Okinawa prefecture in Japan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Tancha, Onna, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan

    Yuichi Nakajima & Satoshi Mitarai

  2. Sesoko Station, Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Sesoko, Motobu, Okinawa, 905-0227, Japan

    Akira Nishikawa & Kazuhiko Sakai

  3. National Institute of Technology, Okinawa College, Henoko, Nago, Okinawa, 905-2192, Japan

    Akira Iguchi

  4. Okinawa Prefecture Environment Science Center, Kyozuka, Urasoe, Okinawa, 901-2111, Japan

    Tomofumi Nagata

  5. Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Kagoshima University, Korimoto, Kagoshima, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan

    Daisuke Uyeno

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  1. Yuichi Nakajima
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  2. Akira Nishikawa
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  3. Akira Iguchi
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  4. Tomofumi Nagata
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  5. Daisuke Uyeno
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  6. Kazuhiko Sakai
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Correspondence to Yuichi Nakajima.

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Nakajima, Y., Nishikawa, A., Iguchi, A. et al. Elucidating the multiple genetic lineages and population genetic structure of the brooding coral Seriatopora (Scleractinia: Pocilloporidae) in the Ryukyu Archipelago. Coral Reefs 36, 415–426 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-017-1557-x

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