High clonality in Acropora palmata and Acropora cervicornis populations of Guadeloupe, French Lesser Antilles
A. Japaud A , C. Bouchon A , J.-L. Manceau A and C. Fauvelot B C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A UMR 7208 BOREA, LabEx CORAIL, Université des Antilles et de la Guyane, BP 592, 97159 Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe.
B UMR 9220 ENTROPIE, LabEx CORAIL, Centre IRD de Nouméa, 101 Promenade Roger Laroque, BPA5, 98848 Nouméa, New Caledonia.
C Corresponding author. Email: cecile.fauvelot@ird.fr
Marine and Freshwater Research 66(9) 847-851 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF14181
Submitted: 27 June 2014 Accepted: 5 November 2014 Published: 19 March 2015
Abstract
Since the 1980s, population densities of Acroporidae have dramatically declined in the Caribbean Sea. Quantitative censuses of Acroporidae provide information on the number of colonies (i.e. ramets), but not on the number of genetically distinct individuals (i.e. genets). In this context, the aim of our study was to provide an overview of the genetic status of Acropora populations in Guadeloupe by examining the genotypic richness of Acropora palmata and Acropora cervicornis. Using 14 microsatellite loci, we found extremely low genotypic richness for both species from Caye-à-Dupont reef (i.e. 0.125 for A. palmata and nearly zero for A. cervicornis). Because genetic diversity contributes to the ability of organisms to evolve and adapt to new environmental conditions, our results are alarming in the context of ongoing global warming as long periods of clonal growth without sexual recruitment may lead to the extinction of these populations.
Additional keywords: genotypic richness, Acroporidae, microsatellites, Caribbean Sea.
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