Still focused on the beloved Mediterranean octocorals.
Still resulting from a long term and productive collaboration @JGarrabou
So what’s new? 2/n
While we consider #Mediterranean #octocorals to be species with low dispersal abilities due to the report of significant genetic structure at low spatial scales (10’s m), little is known regarding the colonization/recolonization dynamics. 3/n
Here we characterize and compare the recolonization capacities in two species, #Paramuricea_clavata and #Eunicella_cavolini, in two different situations: the colonization of artificial substrates in the former and, the recolonization following mortality events in the latter. 4/n
We genotyped individuals from two recently colonized “artificial populations” in P. clavata and from one recolonized population in E. cavolini. In addition, individuals from neighboring populations were sampled and genotyped in the two species. 5/n
We showed:
1. similar diversity patterns among colonized/recolonized and neighboring populations;
2. mixed origins of the recruits in the colonized/recolonized populations;
3. sporadic input from distant populations (> kms), particularly in E. cavolini. 6/n
These results suggest:
1. a lack of founder effect during colonization/recolonization, which may be explained by the late sexual maturity reported in these species;
2. the need to further characterize the temporal dynamic of the colonization/recolonization in these species. 7/n
3. last but not least and particularly interesting in a conservation perspective: the possibility of successful colonization/recolonization in a metapopulation context.
You can follow @jbaptisteledoux.
Tip: mention @twtextapp on a Twitter thread with the keyword “unroll” to get a link to it.

Latest Threads Unrolled: