Genetic connectivity of the reef fish Lutjanus kasmira at the scale of the western Indian Ocean

Examining the genetic structure of species allows an estimate of the level of evolutionary connectivity between localities; this information is important for marine biodiversity protection, in particular, for the delineation of marine protected areas. In this context, a total of 601 Lutjanus kasmira (Forsskål, 1775) were sampled in 16 localities of the western Indian Ocean and analyzed with both mitochondrial cytochrome b sequencing and eight microsatellite loci genotyping. Both genetic markers indicate that differentiation was not significant even between samples separated by more than 4000 km. This absence of genetic differentiation among samples was favored by ecological plasticity of the species and is now ensured by resultant high levels of dispersal. Nevertheless, some significant genetic structure was detected for the areas of Mauritius and Moroni, as well as within populations in all localities, which will have to be explained by additional studies on local processes.

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Evaluating the potential for transboundary management of marine biodiversity in the Western Indian Ocean

10.31230/osf.io/q2znm ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

NOam Levin

Keyword(s):

Indian Ocean ◽

Marine Protected Areas ◽

Western Indian Ocean ◽

Marine Biodiversity ◽

Transboundary Conservation ◽

External Powers ◽

Conservation Investment ◽

Effective Conservation ◽

Regional Conservation

The economic and socio-political interactions between countries can have major impacts on transboundary conservation decisions and outcomes. Here, we examined for 14 Western Indian Ocean (WIO) continental and island nations the extent of their marine coral reef species, fisheries and marine protected areas (MPAs), in the context of their geopolitical and socio-economic connections. We also examined the role of external countries and organisations in collaboration within the region. We found large variation between the different countries in their protected area size, and management, which result from different interests in establishing the MPAs, ranging from fisheries management, biodiversity conservation to asserting sovereignty claims. Seventy-four per cent of the 154 MPAs in the region belong to island nations; however, the largest MPAs in the WIO were established by European powers, and include Mayotte and Glorioso Islands (France) and Chagos (UK). While the majority of MPAs are managed by individual countries, between-country collaboration within and outside the region is key if the aim is to achieve effective conservation of ecosystems and species across the island and mainland nations in the region. This may be advanced by creating transboundary MPAs and by regional conservation investment by external powers that benefit from the region’s resources.

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Regional Management of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction in the Western Indian Ocean: State of Play and Possible Ways Forward

The International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law ◽

10.1163/15718085-13204020 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 32 (4) ◽

pp. 765-796 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Glen Wright ◽

Julien Rochette

Keyword(s):

Indian Ocean ◽

Protected Areas ◽

Marine Protected Areas ◽

Western Indian Ocean ◽

Marine Biodiversity ◽

International Organisations ◽

Management Tools ◽

Regional Management ◽

National Jurisdiction ◽

Regional Organisations

Abstract In recent years, the international community has become increasingly aware of the growing threats to marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (abnj), and international discussions on a new international legally binding are underway. In parallel, some States, through regional organisations, have progressively extended their activities into abnj, particularly through the development of area-based management tools (abmts). In this article, we consider how actors in the Western Indian Ocean (wio) might engage in abnj governance. In particular, we develop some possible scenarios for developing abmts in the wio, including through the development of fisheries closures, the establishment of marine protected areas (mpas), and the adoption of abmts under the auspices of relevant international organisations. We conclude that while the wio is currently not the most advanced region in terms of ongoing efforts to improve the governance of abnj, there are already some positive signals and promising options for the future.

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Post-2020 Kunming 30% target can easily protect all endemic sharks and rays in the Western Indian Ocean and more

10.1101/2021.03.08.434293 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jessica Cheok ◽

Rima W. Jabado ◽

David A. Ebert ◽

Nicholas K. Dulvy

Keyword(s):

Indian Ocean ◽

Protected Areas ◽

Marine Protected Areas ◽

Regional Cooperation ◽

Western Indian Ocean ◽

Marine Biodiversity ◽

Conservation Priorities ◽

Management Actions ◽

Regional Collaboration ◽

Distribution Ranges

SummarySharks and rays are possibly the most threatened Class of marine fishes and their declines can be halted if protected areas are optimised to benefit these species. We identify spatial priorities for all 63 endemic sharks and rays in the marine biodiversity hotspot, the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). Collectively, while the WIO nations currently surpass the 10% Aichi ocean protection target, this amounts to a dismal protection of only 1.57% of each species’ distribution range. We show that the entire ranges of all endemics can be achieved by protecting 11% of EEZs of WIO nations, well within reach of the new 30% of oceans by 2030 target. Regional management bodies exist, which if taken advantage of to implement shark and ray management, provide opportunities to implement more efficient management across the region. We recommend key management actions to implement and explicit incentivisation of international cooperation in the post-2020 biodiversity framework.Science for SocietyThe past decade has seen massive growth in the establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs), driven by the Aichi biodiversity target of protecting 10% of all ocean areas. This expansion of MPAs, however, has largely occurred in areas residual to extractive uses, often coinciding with less threatened areas of lower conservation value. This coming decade will see a further push to ensure 30% of the oceans are protected by 2030. It is important to understand how existing and future MPAs should be placed to benefit threatened biodiversity. Currently this is unclear for sharks and rays, comprising a species group that is the most evolutionarily distinct vertebrate radiation in the world and also one of the most threatened. We identify both regional and national conservation priorities for expanding marine protected areas to benefit all 63 endemic sharks and rays occurring in the Western Indian Ocean region. We find that the region has already exceeded the 10% ocean protection target, but this amounts to an average of only 1.57% protection of the distribution ranges of these species. We show that protecting the top 10% priority sites will conserve almost half of the geographic range of each species yet require only 1.16% of the total EEZ – a tiny fraction of the 30% by 2030 target. We also show that regional collaboration among all nations can result in more spatially efficient conservation priorities. We recommend that the post-2020 biodiversity framework needs to explicitly incentivise regional cooperation between nations to efficiently achieve urgent targets and maximise benefits to biodiversity.

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Evidence of genetic differentiation in cigar wrasse Cheilio inermis (Labridae) within the western Indian Ocean

Genome ◽

10.1139/gen-2019-0185 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 63 (10) ◽

pp. 493-502

Author(s):

Sisanda Mayekiso ◽

Gavin Gouws ◽

Monica Mwale ◽

Ofer Gon

Keyword(s):

Indian Ocean ◽

Genetic Differentiation ◽

Larval Dispersal ◽

Sequence Data ◽

Allelic Diversity ◽

Nuclear Gene ◽

Western Indian Ocean ◽

Parental Origin ◽

Pelagic Larvae ◽

Atpase 6

Patterns of genetic structure and connectivity of the monotypic cigar wrasse Cheilio inermis within western Indian Ocean (WIO) are poorly understood. Whether the species exists as a single panmictic population across the WIO is unclear. Sequence data were generated from two mitochondrial genes (cytochrome b and ATPase 6) and one nuclear intron (S7 intron I). High levels of haplotype and allelic diversity (h = 0.88–0.98; A = 0.95–0.98), along with low nucleotide diversities were observed across all markers. The pairwise ΦST values indicated differentiation of Tanga from the four WIO localities (Inhaca, Nosy Bé, Gazi, and Shimoni), as well as differentiation between the northernmost WIO localities. AMOVAs indicated high differentiation among defined locality groups, whereas nuclear gene analysis found little differentiation among groups. The observed genetic differentiation in C. inermis could be caused by oceanic barriers, and by limited larval dispersal with the pelagic larvae possibly settling near their parental origin and promoting differentiation.

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Seascape genetics of the spiny lobsterPanulirus homarusin the Western Indian Ocean: Understanding how oceanographic features shape the genetic structure of species with high larval dispersal potential

Ecology and Evolution ◽

10.1002/ece3.4684 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (23) ◽

pp. 12221-12237 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Sohana P. Singh ◽

Johan C. Groeneveld ◽

Michael G. Hart-Davis ◽

Björn C. Backeberg ◽

Sandi Willows-Munro

Keyword(s):

Genetic Structure ◽

Indian Ocean ◽

Larval Dispersal ◽

Western Indian Ocean ◽

Dispersal Potential ◽

Seascape Genetics

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Population genetic structure of the great star coral, Montastraea cavernosa, across the Cuban archipelago with comparisons between microsatellite and SNP markers

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-72112-5 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Alexis B. Sturm ◽

Ryan J. Eckert ◽

Juliett González Méndez ◽

Patricia González-Díaz ◽

Joshua D. Voss

Keyword(s):

Genetic Structure ◽

Population Genetic Structure ◽

Population Genetic ◽

Snp Markers ◽

Genetic Connectivity ◽

Limited Information ◽

Western Atlantic ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Significant Genetic Structure ◽

Montastraea Cavernosa

Abstract Coral reef habitats surrounding Cuba include relatively healthy, well-developed shallow and mesophotic (30–150 m) scleractinian communities at the cross-currents of the Tropical Western Atlantic (TWA). However, Cuba’s coral communities are not immune to the declines observed throughout the TWA, and there is limited information available regarding genetic connectivity, diversity, and structure among these populations. This represents an immense gap in our understanding of coral ecology and population dynamics at both local and regional scales. To address this gap, we evaluated the population genetic structure of the coral Montastraea cavernosa across eight reef sites surrounding Cuba. Colonies were genotyped using nine microsatellite markers and > 9,000 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers generated using the 2bRAD approach to assess fine-scale genetic structure across these sites. Both the microsatellite and SNP analyses identified patterns of genetic differentiation among sample populations. While the microsatellite analyses did not identify significant genetic structure across the seven shallow M. cavernosa sampling sites, the SNP analyses revealed significant pairwise population differentiation, suggesting that differentiation is greater between eastern and western sites. This study provides insight into methodological differences between microsatellite and SNP markers including potential trade-offs between marker-specific biases, sample size, sequencing costs, and the ability to resolve subtle patterns of population genetic structure. Furthermore, this study suggests that locations in western Cuba may play important roles in this species’ regional metapopulation dynamics and therefore may merit incorporation into developing international management efforts in addition to the local management the sites receive.

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The Coral Triangle Initiative: what are we missing? A case study from Aceh

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605312000178 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 46 (4) ◽

pp. 482-485 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Edi Rudi ◽

Stuart J. Campbell ◽

Andrew S. Hoey ◽

Nur Fadli ◽

Matthew Linkie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Indian Ocean ◽

Western Indian Ocean ◽

Andaman Sea ◽

Marine Biodiversity ◽

Western Boundary ◽

Coral Triangle ◽

Coral Fauna ◽

High Conservation ◽

Reef Fauna

AbstractThe Coral Triangle Initiative is an ambitious attempt to conserve the marine biodiversity hotspot known as the Coral Triangle. However, the reef fauna in many nearby regions remains poorly explored and, consequently, the focus on the Coral Triangle risks overlooking other areas of high conservation significance. One region of potential significance, Aceh, Indonesia, has not been visited by coral taxonomists since the Dutch colonial period. Here we document the species richness of scleractinian corals of Pulau Weh, Aceh. We also compare the species richness of the genus Acropora at 3–5 sites in each of nine regions in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Although dominated by widespread Indo-Pacific species, the coral fauna of Pulau Weh is also the eastern and western boundary for many Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean species, respectively. We identified a total of 133 scleractinian species, of which three have been previously recorded only in the western Indian Ocean and five are presently undescribed. The mean species richness of the Acropora at Pulau Weh is similar to regions within the Coral Triangle. This high species richness plus the high proportion of endemics suggests that the Andaman Sea is of similarly high conservation value to the Coral Triangle. We suggest that an international initiative similar to the Coral Triangle Initiative is required to conserve this region, which includes the territorial waters of six countries.

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