Clonal diversity and connectedness of turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum) populations in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

James J. Campanella; Paul A.X. Bologna; Maria Carvalho; John V. Smalley; Mohamedhakim Elakhrass; Robert W. Meredith; Nadia Zaben

doi:10.1016/j.aquabot.2015.01.008

Clonal diversity and connectedness of turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum) populations in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

James J. Campanella, Paul A.X. Bologna, Maria Carvalho, John V. Smalley, Mohamedhakim Elakhrass, Robert W. Meredith, Nadia Zaben

Biology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

John, American Virgin Island turtlegrass are not clonal populations. John's populations have high connectivity to each other. We assessed Thalassia testudinum population genetics among four bays in St. John (United States Virgin Islands), a protected UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Our results suggest that the St. John T. testudinum populations have (1) high sexual reproduction rates, (2) high levels of genetic diversity and low levels of inbreeding relative to other seagrass populations in less protected geographic areas, and (3) high connectivity when separated by up to 12. km. Pairwise F_ST values among the island populations ranged from 0.035 to 0.148. Additionally, we found that the T. testudinum outgroup population from an anthropogenically stressed bay in Florida is surprisingly diverse and shows few signs of inbreeding.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	76-82
Number of pages	7
Journal	Aquatic Botany
Volume	123
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquabot.2015.01.008
State	Published - 1 May 2015

Keywords

Caribbean
Florida
Genetic diversity
Microsatellites
St. John
Tampa Bay
Thalassia testudinum
Turtle grass ecology
UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

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10.1016/j.aquabot.2015.01.008

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title = "Clonal diversity and connectedness of turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum) populations in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve",

abstract = "John, American Virgin Island turtlegrass are not clonal populations. John's populations have high connectivity to each other. We assessed Thalassia testudinum population genetics among four bays in St. John (United States Virgin Islands), a protected UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Our results suggest that the St. John T. testudinum populations have (1) high sexual reproduction rates, (2) high levels of genetic diversity and low levels of inbreeding relative to other seagrass populations in less protected geographic areas, and (3) high connectivity when separated by up to 12. km. Pairwise FST values among the island populations ranged from 0.035 to 0.148. Additionally, we found that the T. testudinum outgroup population from an anthropogenically stressed bay in Florida is surprisingly diverse and shows few signs of inbreeding.",

keywords = "Caribbean, Florida, Genetic diversity, Microsatellites, St. John, Tampa Bay, Thalassia testudinum, Turtle grass ecology, UNESCO Biosphere Reserve",

author = "Campanella, {James J.} and Bologna, {Paul A.X.} and Maria Carvalho and Smalley, {John V.} and Mohamedhakim Elakhrass and Meredith, {Robert W.} and Nadia Zaben",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2015 Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2015",

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doi = "10.1016/j.aquabot.2015.01.008",

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AU - Campanella, James J.

AU - Bologna, Paul A.X.

AU - Carvalho, Maria

AU - Smalley, John V.

AU - Elakhrass, Mohamedhakim

AU - Meredith, Robert W.

AU - Zaben, Nadia

PY - 2015/5/1

Y1 - 2015/5/1

N2 - John, American Virgin Island turtlegrass are not clonal populations. John's populations have high connectivity to each other. We assessed Thalassia testudinum population genetics among four bays in St. John (United States Virgin Islands), a protected UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Our results suggest that the St. John T. testudinum populations have (1) high sexual reproduction rates, (2) high levels of genetic diversity and low levels of inbreeding relative to other seagrass populations in less protected geographic areas, and (3) high connectivity when separated by up to 12. km. Pairwise FST values among the island populations ranged from 0.035 to 0.148. Additionally, we found that the T. testudinum outgroup population from an anthropogenically stressed bay in Florida is surprisingly diverse and shows few signs of inbreeding.

AB - John, American Virgin Island turtlegrass are not clonal populations. John's populations have high connectivity to each other. We assessed Thalassia testudinum population genetics among four bays in St. John (United States Virgin Islands), a protected UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Our results suggest that the St. John T. testudinum populations have (1) high sexual reproduction rates, (2) high levels of genetic diversity and low levels of inbreeding relative to other seagrass populations in less protected geographic areas, and (3) high connectivity when separated by up to 12. km. Pairwise FST values among the island populations ranged from 0.035 to 0.148. Additionally, we found that the T. testudinum outgroup population from an anthropogenically stressed bay in Florida is surprisingly diverse and shows few signs of inbreeding.

KW - Caribbean

KW - Florida

KW - Genetic diversity

KW - Microsatellites

KW - St. John

KW - Tampa Bay

KW - Thalassia testudinum

KW - Turtle grass ecology

KW - UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

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SN - 0304-3770

VL - 123

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EP - 82

JO - Aquatic Botany

JF - Aquatic Botany

ER -

Clonal diversity and connectedness of turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum) populations in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

Abstract

Keywords

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