Genetic diversity in threatened Posidonia australis seagrass meadows

Evans, Suzanna M.; Sinclair, Elizabeth A.; Poore, Alistair G. B.; Steinberg, Peter D.; Kendrick, Gary A.; Vergés, Adriana

doi:10.1007/s10592-014-0573-4

Cited by 43 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…(, ). We also included data for three meadows from southern New South Wales (Evans et al ., ). Prior to analysis, the data set was run through Micro ‐ Checker 2.2.3 (van Oosterhout et al ., ) to test for the presence of null alleles, stuttering or large allele dropout.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Nine polymorphic microsatellite loci (PaA1, PaA105, PaA120, PaB6 PaB8, PaB112, PaD12, PaD113, Pa118/9) were genotyped using methods described in Sinclair et al (2009Sinclair et al ( , 2014. We also included data for three meadows from southern New South Wales (Evans et al, 2014). Prior to analysis, the data set was run through Micro-Checker 2.2.3 (van Oosterhout et al, 2004) to test for the presence of null alleles, stuttering or large allele dropout.…”

Section: Field Sampling and Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Genetic signatures of Bassian glacial refugia and contemporary connectivity in a marine foundation species

Sinclair

Anthony

Greer

et al. 2016

Journal of Biogeography

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Aim To examine the population genetic structure in Posidonia australis meadows, a marine foundation species capable of long distance dispersal (LDD), and the role of historical versus contemporary processes in shaping post Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) re‐colonization. Location Southeastern Australia including the Bass Strait Islands. Methods We generated multilocus genotypes and assessed spatial patterns of genetic diversity. Relationships among meadows were assessed in terms of historical sea level changes, oceanic boundary currents and contemporary seed dispersal based on a hydrodynamic model. Results There was strong regional spatial genetic structuring among P. australis meadows in south‐eastern Australia, which was congruent with three recognized marine biogeographical provinces [Peronian (eastern), Flindersian (western and southern), and Maugean (south‐eastern)]. The genetic data suggest Maugean meadows persisted in isolation during the LGM, with evidence for admixture and contemporary gene flow. Simulated dispersal events identified high rates of local and regional demographic connectivity, with evidence for occasional LDD events. Main conclusions The strong regional differentiation is consistent with long‐term barriers to dispersal persisting in the marine environment through many sea level fluctuations. Bass Strait Island meadows all have strong signals of genetic admixture. A weak but significant isolation by distance relationship is consistent with a historical signal and contemporary seed dispersal mostly within the Bass Strait.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Field Sampling and Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic signatures of Bassian glacial refugia and contemporary connectivity in a marine foundation species

Sinclair

Anthony

Greer

et al. 2016

Journal of Biogeography

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“…Understanding the local context for genetic diversity is important as it can be highly variable among different meadows of the same seagrass species, e.g. contrasting low and high genetic diversity for P. australis along the east and west coasts of Australia (Evans et al, 2014;Sinclair et al, 2014). However, the ongoing loss of genetic diversity might suggest a stressor acting on the population resulting in the selection of maladapted genotypes.…”

Section: Effective Monitoring To Protect Both Transitory and Enduringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unravelling complexity in seagrass systems for management: Australia as a microcosm

Kilminster

McMahon

Waycott

et al. 2015

Science of The Total Environment

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“…The 37 repeated MLGs from SG were mostly nonsignificant ( n = 32 MLGs) for P sex , but five were significant at P < 0.05 and therefore likely the result of sexual reproduction. All eight plots containing transplant units sourced from JB had the same MLG as the same dominant MLG identified in Evans et al (). All plots with JB‐sourced transplant units had an observed heterozygosity of 37.5% and contained 11 alleles.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 73%

“…No MLGs were shared between these two meadows, which were genetically distinct from one another ( F ST = 0.33). SG is one of the few meadows along the east coast known to flower regularly and produce viable seeds (Meehan & West ; S. Evans et al , personal observations). However, contemporary gene flow via pollen or seed dispersal is considered extremely unlikely between these two meadows due to the long flushing time of SG (Haese et al ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the effect of genetic diversity on the early establishment of the threatened seagrass Posidonia australis using a reciprocal‐transplant experiment

Evans

Sinclair

Poore

et al. 2017

Restoration Ecology

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Two common goals for restoration are rapid plant establishment and long‐term plant persistence. The success of transplanted populations may be jeopardized if the donor transplants are not genetically diverse, and/or poorly matched to their new environment. Here, we test the effects of local adaptation and plot‐level genetic diversity on the early establishment phase of a threatened seagrass species, Posidonia australis, by performing a reciprocal transplant experiment across two genetically and geographically distinct populations in southeastern Australia. Posidonia australis is a long‐lived, slow‐growing species that has no seed bank, and the successful transplantation of live shoots and seedlings is the only available restoration method. Our results show a strong effect of local adaptation and genetic diversity on P. australis survivorship and performance over the first 6 months following transplantation. High‐genetic diversity plots displayed higher survival rates and exhibited reduced productivity and increased carbohydrate reserves within the rhizome. This suggests that high‐diversity plots included shoots that were conserving energy stores by actively reducing growth rates during the early stages of transplantation. The lowest diversity plots exhibited high leaf and root productivity and corresponding low carbohydrate reserves. This may be a sign of stress in the low‐diversity transplants, potentially explaining the very low survival rate. We suggest that future restoration efforts source donor transplants from multiple local sources to ensure both local adaptation and sufficient genetic diversity to increase the likelihood of early establishment success.

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Genetic diversity in threatened Posidonia australis seagrass meadows

Cited by 43 publications

References 67 publications

Genetic signatures of Bassian glacial refugia and contemporary connectivity in a marine foundation species

Genetic signatures of Bassian glacial refugia and contemporary connectivity in a marine foundation species

Unravelling complexity in seagrass systems for management: Australia as a microcosm

Assessing the effect of genetic diversity on the early establishment of the threatened seagrass Posidonia australis using a reciprocal‐transplant experiment

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