Genetic diversity and structure of Pocillopora spp. corals in the Gulf of Papagayo, Costa Rica
Abstract Understanding the genetic diversity and connectivity of coral populations is necessary for their adequate management, especially considering global climate change. This study reports the genetic diversity and structure of the most common coral genus in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, Pocillop...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Discover Oceans |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44289-025-00055-8 |
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| author | Randall Hidalgo-Sánchez Juan José Alvarado Emanuel Araya-Valverde Edgardo Díaz-Ferguson |
| author_facet | Randall Hidalgo-Sánchez Juan José Alvarado Emanuel Araya-Valverde Edgardo Díaz-Ferguson |
| author_sort | Randall Hidalgo-Sánchez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Understanding the genetic diversity and connectivity of coral populations is necessary for their adequate management, especially considering global climate change. This study reports the genetic diversity and structure of the most common coral genus in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, Pocillopora. A total of 12 microsatellite loci were tested to estimate genetic diversity metrics for three populations in the Gulf of Papagayo, of which 11 amplified successfully. High level of clonality was found in one of the populations (Jícaro; clonal richness, R = 0.069), where only three multilocus genotypes (MLGs) were found. This population also exhibited the lowest heterozygosity (He = 0.364) compared to Matapalo (He = 0.624) and Zapotillal (He = 0.598). Genetic structure was assessed using Nei’s pairwise FST and complemented with assignment tests. The analyses found Jícaro to be differentiated from both Matapalo and Zapotillal; whereas the last two populations show reduced divergence between them. These results indicate predominant asexual reproduction in Jícaro. Coupled with genetic isolation with the other sites suggest the occurrence of different Pocillopora species. Anyhow, they highlight a reduced genetic diversity, and thus a high vulnerability, in Jícaro. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2f0ef899d5bc4652b92ec21024b73b45 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2948-1562 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Oceans |
| spelling | doaj-art-2f0ef899d5bc4652b92ec21024b73b452025-08-20T02:29:45ZengSpringerDiscover Oceans2948-15622025-05-012111310.1007/s44289-025-00055-8Genetic diversity and structure of Pocillopora spp. corals in the Gulf of Papagayo, Costa RicaRandall Hidalgo-Sánchez0Juan José Alvarado1Emanuel Araya-Valverde2Edgardo Díaz-Ferguson3Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa RicaEscuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa RicaCentro Nacional de Innovaciones Biotecnológicas (CENIBiot), CeNAT-Consejo Nacional de Rectores (CONARE)Estación Científica Coiba, Coiba-AIPAbstract Understanding the genetic diversity and connectivity of coral populations is necessary for their adequate management, especially considering global climate change. This study reports the genetic diversity and structure of the most common coral genus in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, Pocillopora. A total of 12 microsatellite loci were tested to estimate genetic diversity metrics for three populations in the Gulf of Papagayo, of which 11 amplified successfully. High level of clonality was found in one of the populations (Jícaro; clonal richness, R = 0.069), where only three multilocus genotypes (MLGs) were found. This population also exhibited the lowest heterozygosity (He = 0.364) compared to Matapalo (He = 0.624) and Zapotillal (He = 0.598). Genetic structure was assessed using Nei’s pairwise FST and complemented with assignment tests. The analyses found Jícaro to be differentiated from both Matapalo and Zapotillal; whereas the last two populations show reduced divergence between them. These results indicate predominant asexual reproduction in Jícaro. Coupled with genetic isolation with the other sites suggest the occurrence of different Pocillopora species. Anyhow, they highlight a reduced genetic diversity, and thus a high vulnerability, in Jícaro.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44289-025-00055-8ClonalityCoral reefEastern Tropical PacificGenetic connectivityMicrosatellitesPopulation genetics |
| spellingShingle | Randall Hidalgo-Sánchez Juan José Alvarado Emanuel Araya-Valverde Edgardo Díaz-Ferguson Genetic diversity and structure of Pocillopora spp. corals in the Gulf of Papagayo, Costa Rica Discover Oceans Clonality Coral reef Eastern Tropical Pacific Genetic connectivity Microsatellites Population genetics |
| title | Genetic diversity and structure of Pocillopora spp. corals in the Gulf of Papagayo, Costa Rica |
| title_full | Genetic diversity and structure of Pocillopora spp. corals in the Gulf of Papagayo, Costa Rica |
| title_fullStr | Genetic diversity and structure of Pocillopora spp. corals in the Gulf of Papagayo, Costa Rica |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic diversity and structure of Pocillopora spp. corals in the Gulf of Papagayo, Costa Rica |
| title_short | Genetic diversity and structure of Pocillopora spp. corals in the Gulf of Papagayo, Costa Rica |
| title_sort | genetic diversity and structure of pocillopora spp corals in the gulf of papagayo costa rica |
| topic | Clonality Coral reef Eastern Tropical Pacific Genetic connectivity Microsatellites Population genetics |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44289-025-00055-8 |
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