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Abstract

Macroalgae underpin most temperate inshore ecosystems, but increasing macroalgalloss, fragmentation and range contractions are eroding connectivity among populations. Understanding loss, and predicting the likelihood of recovery, is dependent on knowledge of population connectivity and how it is mediated by variability in local seascapes. Although many studies of marine macroalgal connectivity have focussed on influences of geographic distance on genetic structure, the contribution of intervening habitat is rarely considered. We tested the extent to which geographic separation, intervening suitable habitat (reef versus sand and open water) and local hydrodynamics (inferred from particle dispersal models) explained structuring of genetic variation at microsatellite loci in the habitat forming macroalga Lessonia corrugata. Genetic structuring was best explained by the availability of suitable intervening habitat (rocky reef) rather than by geographic separation, although biologically realistic estimates of dispersal probability also became important at smaller spatial scales. Our results indicate that ecological separation can be more influential than geographic distance on population genetic structuring, and this should be considered during the assessment of connectivity and gene flow in marine species.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Durrant, HMS and Barrett, NS and Edgar, GJ and Coleman, MA and Burridge, CP
Keywords:	seascape genetics, Lessonia corrugata, dispersal, macroalgae, microsatellites
Journal or Publication Title:	Marine Ecology Progress Series
Publisher:	Inter-Research
ISSN:	0171-8630
DOI / ID Number:	10.3354/meps12447
Copyright Information:	Copyright 2018 Inter-Research
Related URLs:	Google Scholar: Barrett, NS UTAS Profile: Barrett, NS Google Scholar: Edgar, GJ UTAS Profile: Edgar, GJ Google Scholar: Burridge, CP UTAS Profile: Burridge, CP
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