Metapopulations of Marine Species with Larval Dispersal: A Counterpoint to Ilkka's Glanville Fritillary Metapopulations

As with all Sebastes species, yellowtail rockfish ( S. flavidus ) produce larvae with an extended pelagic juvenile phase that can be advected in coastal currents. While dispersal potential is high, previous research on population genetic characteristics of Sebastes species indicates that apparent realized dispersal can be much lower and can exhibit complex patterns of genetic structure. We assayed 812 bp of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and six microsatellite loci in ∼1000 yellowtail rockfish collected from 21 sites that span the species range from southern California to southeastern Alaska. An abrupt genetic cline near Cape Mendocino, California, splits the range into a northern and southern stock, and is highly concordant between our mitochondrial (FCT = 0.32, p ≪ 0.001) and microsatellite (FCT = 0.02, p ≪ 0.001) datasets. We show that this pattern may be due to a combination of physical (oceanographic or other barriers to larval dispersal), biological (habitat differences), and historical events. This study, and both intra- and inter-specific evidence from other marine species suggests Cape Mendocino demarcates two regions experiencing divergent evolutionary trajectories, and should be considered in management strategies.

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Modeling the Dynamics of Marine Species: The Importance of Incorporating Larval Dispersal

Ecology of Marine Invertebrate Larvae ◽

10.1201/9780138758950-12 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 389-412 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Steven D. Gaines ◽

Kevin D. Lafferty

Keyword(s):

Larval Dispersal ◽

Marine Species

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Widespread Dispersal of the Crown-of-Thorns Sea Star,Acanthaster planci, across the Hawaiian Archipelago and Johnston Atoll

Journal of Marine Biology ◽

10.1155/2011/934269 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2011 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Molly A. Timmers ◽

Kimberly R. Andrews ◽

Chris E. Bird ◽

Marta J. deMaintenton ◽

Russell E. Brainard ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Population Structure ◽

Gene Flow ◽

Larval Dispersal ◽

Hawaiian Islands ◽

Marine Species ◽

Sea Star ◽

Acanthaster Planci ◽

The West ◽

Geographic Population ◽

Hawaiian Archipelago

The population structure of marine species is variable along the Hawaiian Archipelago; thus, it is important to understand dispersal and recruitment patterns for economically and ecologically important taxa to inform Ecosystem-based Management. Connectivity of the coral-eating crown-of-thorns sea star,Acanthaster planci, was examined from Johnston Atoll and 12 locations across the Hawaiian Archipelago. Sequences of mitochondrial DNA from 383 individuals were analyzed to infer patterns of gene flow among the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHIs), the main Hawaiian Islands, and Johnston Atoll. Population samples were genetically similar across the Hawaiian Archipelago with the exception of the west side of the Big Island of Hawaii, which was significantly differentiated from the majority of Hawaiian samples (pairwise , ). Although differentiated, Hawai`i West shares haplotypes with every other site across the Hawaiian Archipelago. Johnston Atoll was genetically distinct from every location (pairwise , ) except French Frigate Shoals (, ), supporting connectivity between the central NWHIs and Johnston Atoll. Taken together with the lack of geographic population structure and haplotypes shared among all populations, these results indicate widespread larval dispersal with few restrictions to gene flow along the archipelago.

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Evidence for limited larval dispersal in black rockfish (Sebastes melanops): implications for population structure and marine-reserve design

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f04-111 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 61 (9) ◽

pp. 1723-1735 ◽

Cited By ~ 64

Author(s):

J A Miller ◽

A L Shanks

Keyword(s):

Population Structure ◽

Larval Dispersal ◽

Marine Reserve ◽

Marine Species ◽

Dispersal Distance ◽

Reserve Design ◽

Black Rockfish ◽

Sebastes Melanops ◽

Dispersal Distances ◽

Few Data

Although dispersal distances of marine larvae influence gene flow and the establishment of population structure, few data on realized dispersal distances exist for marine species. We combined otolith microstructure and micro chemistry of black rockfish (Sebastes melanops) to assess their potential to provide relative estimates of larval dispersal distance. In 2001 and 2002 we measured trace elements at discrete otolith regions, representing the (i) egg/early-larval, (ii) pelagic larval, and (iii) late-larval/early-juvenile periods of fish collected at three locations 120460 km apart. Discriminant-function analyses based on geochemical signatures at each otolith region accurately grouped an average of 85% (jackknife = 67%) and 87% (jackknife = 81%) of the fish to collection location in 2001 and 2002, respectively. Age at collection ranged from 83 to 174 days and parturition dates within each site were spread over a 22- to 66-day period. Therefore, individuals within sites were not released at similar times. A probable explanation of these data is that larvae from different geographic locations did not mix during ontogeny and possibly did not disperse long distances alongshore. Larval dispersal distances may be appreciably shorter, <120 km, than previously assumed based on models of passive dispersal.

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Fine-scale seascape genomics of an exploited marine species, the common cockle Cerastoderma edule, using a multi-modelling approach

10.1101/724062 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Ilaria Coscia ◽

Sophie B. Wilmes ◽

Joseph E. Ironside ◽

Alice Goward-Brown ◽

Enda O’Dea ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Larval Dispersal ◽

Spatial Genetic Structure ◽

Marine Species ◽

Larval Transport ◽

Fine Scale ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Cerastoderma Edule ◽

Larval Behaviour ◽

Outlier Loci ◽

Commercially Important

ABSTRACTPopulation dynamics of marine species that are sessile as adults are driven by oceanographic dispersal of larvae from spawning to nursery grounds. This is mediated by life-history traits such as the timing and frequency of spawning, larval behaviour and duration, and settlement success. Here, we use 1725 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to study the fine scale spatial genetic structure in the commercially important cockle species Cerastoderma edule and compare it to environmental variables and current-mediated larval dispersal within a modelling framework. Hydrodynamic modelling employing the NEMO Atlantic Margin Model (AMM15) was used to simulate larval transport and estimate connectivity between populations during spawning months (April - September), factoring in larval duration and seasonal variability of ocean currents. Results at neutral loci reveal the existence of three separate genetic clusters (mean FST=0.021) within a relatively fine spatial scale in the northwest Atlantic. Environmental association (EA) analysis indicates that oceanographic currents and geographical distance between the populations explain over 20% of the variance observed at neutral loci, while genetic variance (71%) at outlier loci was explained by sea surface temperatures extremes. These results fill an important knowledge gap in the management of a commercially important, overexploited species, and bring us closer to understanding the role of larval dispersal in connecting populations at a fine geographical scale.

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Comparative phylogeography to test for predictions of marine larval dispersal in three amphidromous shrimps

Marine Ecology Progress Series ◽

10.3354/meps11911 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 560 ◽

pp. 105-120 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

J Fujita ◽

K Zenimoto ◽

A Iguchi ◽

Y Kai ◽

M Ueno ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Larval Dispersal ◽

Comparative Phylogeography

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High predatory efficiency and abundance drive expected ecological impacts of a marine invasive fish

Marine Ecology Progress Series ◽

10.3354/meps13251 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 637 ◽

pp. 195-208 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

EM DeRoy ◽

R Scott ◽

NE Hussey ◽

HJ MacIsaac

Keyword(s):

Invasive Species ◽

Native Species ◽

Ecological Impact ◽

Marine Species ◽

Ecological Impacts ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Marine Predator ◽

Eastern Gulf Of Mexico ◽

Red Grouper ◽

Per Capita

The ecological impacts of invasive species are highly variable and mediated by many factors, including both habitat and population abundance. Lionfish Pterois volitans are an invasive marine species which have high reported detrimental effects on prey populations, but whose effects relative to native predators are currently unknown for the recently colonized eastern Gulf of Mexico. We used functional response (FR) methodology to assess the ecological impact of lionfish relative to 2 functionally similar native species (red grouper Epinephelus morio and graysby grouper Cephalopholis cruentata) foraging in a heterogeneous environment. We then combined the per capita impact of each species with their field abundance to obtain a Relative Impact Potential (RIP). RIP assesses the broader ecological impact of invasive relative to native predators, the magnitude of which predicts community-level negative effects of invasive species. Lionfish FR and overall consumption rate was intermediate to that of red grouper (higher) and graysby grouper (lower). However, lionfish had the highest capture efficiency of all species, which was invariant of habitat. Much higher field abundance of lionfish resulted in high RIPs relative to both grouper species, demonstrating that the ecological impact of lionfish in this region will be driven mainly by high abundance and high predator efficiency rather than per capita effect. Our comparative study is the first empirical assessment of lionfish per capita impact and RIP in this region and is one of few such studies to quantify the FR of a marine predator.

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