Genetic Connectivity in the Florida Reef System: Comparative Phylogeography of Commensal Invertebrates With Contrasting Reproductive Strategies

Authors

Vincent P. Richards, Nova Southeastern University
James Darwin Thomas, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Michael J. Stanhope, Cornell University
Mahmood S. Shivji, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow

ResearcherID

G-4080-2013

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Molecular Ecology

ISSN

0962-1083

Publication Date

1-1-2007

Keywords

Brittle star, Commensal, Coral reef connectivity, Leucothoid amphipods, Life history, Nested clade analysis

Abstract

Effective spatial management of coral reefs including design of marine protected areas requires an understanding of interpopulation genetic connectivity. We assessed gene flow along 355 km of the Florida reef system and between Florida and Belize in three commensal invertebrates occupying the same host sponge (Callyspongia vaginalis) but displaying contrasting reproductive dispersal strategies: the broadcast-spawning brittle star Ophiothrix lineata and two brooding amphipods Leucothoe kensleyi and Leucothoe ashleyae. Multiple analytical approaches to sequence variation in the mitochondrial COI gene demonstrated a high degree of overall connectivity for all three species along the Florida reef system. Ophiothrix lineata showed significant genetic structuring between Florida and Belize, and a pattern of isolation by distance but no significant genetic structuring along the Florida coastline. Bayesian estimates of migration detected a strong southerly dispersal bias for O. lineata along the Florida reef system, contrary to the general assumption of northerly gene flow in this region based on the direction of the Florida Current. Both amphipods, despite direct development, also showed high gene flow along the Florida reef system. Multiple inferences of long-distance dispersal from a nested clade analysis support the hypothesis that amphipod transport, possibly in detached sponge fragments, could generate the high levels of overall gene flow observed. However, this transport mechanism appears much less effective across deep water as connectivity between Florida and Belize (1072 km) is highly restricted.

DOI

10.1111/j.1365-294X.2006.03145.x

Volume

16

Issue

1

First Page

139

Last Page

157

Comments

©2006 The Authors; Journal compilation ©2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Additional Comments

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Coastal Ocean Program grant #: NA03NOS4260046

NSUWorks Citation

Vincent P. Richards, James Darwin Thomas, Michael J. Stanhope, and Mahmood S. Shivji. 2007. Genetic Connectivity in the Florida Reef System: Comparative Phylogeography of Commensal Invertebrates With Contrasting Reproductive Strategies .Molecular Ecology , (1) : 139 -157. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facarticles/372.