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Cryptic changes in the genetic structure of a highly clonal coral population and the relationship with ecological performance

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Abstract

Elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata, relies heavily on clonal propagation and often displays low genotypic (clonal) diversity. Populations in the Florida Keys experienced rapid declines in tissue cover between 2004 and 2006, largely due to hurricanes and disease, but remained stable from 2006 to 2010. All elkhorn colonies in 150 m2 permanent study plots were genotyped in 2006 (n = 15 plots) and 2010 (n = 24 plots), and plots sampled in both years were examined for changes in allelic and genotypic diversity during this period of stable ecological abundance. Overall, genetic diversity of Florida plots was low and declined further over the 4-yr period; seven of the 36 original genets and two of 67 alleles (among five microsatellite loci) were lost completely from the sampled population, and an additional 15 alleles were lost from individual reefs. In 2010, Florida plots (~19 colonies) contained an average of 2.2 ± 1.38 (mean ± SD) genets with a significant negative correlation between colony abundance and genotypic diversity. When scaled to total tissue abundance, genotypic diversity is even lower, with 43 % of genets below the size of sexual maturity. We examined the hypothesized positive relationship of local genotypic diversity with ecological performance measures. In Florida plots (n = 15), genotypic diversity was not significantly correlated with tissue loss associated with chronic predation, nor with acute disease and storm-fragmentation events, though this relationship may be obscured by the low range of observed diversity and potential confounding with abundance. When more diverse plots in Curaçao (n = 9) were examined, genotypic diversity was not significantly correlated with resistance during an acute storm disturbance or rate of recovery following disturbance. Cryptic loss of genetic diversity occurred in the apparently stable Florida population and confirms that stable or even increasing abundance does not necessarily indicate genetic stability.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by National Undersea Research Center (2004–2006), NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program (2006–2010) and NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Regional Office, Protected Resources Division, NSF grant OCE-0825979 and permitted by Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. M. Devlin-Durante expertly extracted and genotyped samples. Field assistance from A. Bright, C. Cameron, K. Erickson, C. Fasano, L. Johnston, K. L. Kramer, B. Mason, and R. Wilborn is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Cswy., Miami, FL, 33149, USA

    Dana E. Williams

  2. National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 75 Virginia Beach Dr., Miami, FL, 33149, USA

    Dana E. Williams & M. W. Miller

  3. Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, 208 Mueller Laboratory, University Park, PA, 16802, USA

    I. B. Baums

Authors
  1. Dana E. Williams
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  2. M. W. Miller
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  3. I. B. Baums
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Correspondence to Dana E. Williams.

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Communicated by Biology Editor Dr. Stephen Swearer

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Williams, D.E., Miller, M.W. & Baums, I.B. Cryptic changes in the genetic structure of a highly clonal coral population and the relationship with ecological performance. Coral Reefs 33, 595–606 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-014-1157-y

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