Genetic structure of the deep‐sea coral Lophelia pertusa in the northeast Atlantic revealed by microsatellites and internal transcribed spacer sequences

Abstract

The azooxanthellate scleractinian coral Lophelia pertusa has a near-cosmopolitan distribution, with a main depth distribution between 200 and 1000 m. In the northeast Atlantic it is the main framework-building species, forming deep-sea reefs in the bathyal zone on the continental margin, offshore banks and in Scandinavian fjords. Recent studies have shown that deep-sea reefs are associated with a highly diverse fauna. Such deep-sea communities are subject to increasing impact from deep-water fisheries, against a background of poor knowledge concerning these ecosystems, including the biology and population structure of L. pertusa. To resolve the population structure and to assess the dispersal potential of this deep-sea coral, specific microsatellites markers and ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences ITS1 and ITS2 were used to investigate 10 different sampling sites, distributed along the European margin and in Scandinavian fjords. Both microsatellite and gene sequence data showed that L. pertusa should not be considered as one panmictic population in the northeast Atlantic but instead forms distinct, offshore and fjord populations. Results also suggest that, if some gene flow is occurring along the continental slope, the recruitment of sexually produced larvae is likely to be strongly local. The microsatellites showed significant levels of inbreeding and revealed that the level of genetic diversity and the contribution of asexual reproduction to the maintenance of the subpopulations were highly variable from site to site. These results are of major importance in the generation of a sustainable management strategy for these diversity-rich deep-sea ecosystems.

Larval Behavior and Longevity in the Cold-Water Coral Lophelia pertusa Indicate Potential for Long Distance Dispersal

“…Le Goff-Vitry et al (2004) and Morrison et al (2011) found high levels of inbreeding (heterozygote deficits) in a majority of the populations examined. Le Goff-Vitry et al (2004) suggested the pattern is caused by spatially restricted gene flow and high rates of local recruitment of sexually reproduced larvae. The hypothesis of high rates of self-recruitment on a site is somewhat conflicting with our observations of L. pertusa larval biology in this study and in Larsson et al (2014).…”

“…Among north Atlantic populations, these estimates have given somewhat contrasting results (Le Goff-Vitry et al, 2004;Morrison et al, 2011;Dahl et al, 2012;Flot et al, 2013;Becheler et al, 2017). Le Goff-Vitry et al (2004) and Morrison et al (2011) found high levels of inbreeding (heterozygote deficits) in a majority of the populations examined. Le Goff-Vitry et al (2004) suggested the pattern is caused by spatially restricted gene flow and high rates of local recruitment of sexually reproduced larvae.…”

“…Both Le Goff-Vitry et al (2004) who investigated sampling sites distributed along the European margin, and Morrison et al (2011) who sampled four regions in the North Atlantic Ocean, estimated weak to moderate connectivity among populations within regions. Results of both studies also indicate that some larvae are widely dispersed.…”

Small-scale spatial genetic structure in Scopalina lophyropoda, an encrusting sponge with philopatric larval dispersal and frequent fission and fusion events

“…Knowlton & Jackson 1993, Le Goff-Vitry et al 2004, GutierrezRodriguez & Lasker 2004, which has been attributed to their potential self-fertilisation, and philopatric larval dispersal (Carlon 1999). Multilocus F IS values based on microsatellites of the only other sponge studied so far (i.e.…”

Design of Marine Protected Areas on high seas and territorial waters of Rockall Bank

“…A new tranche of deep-water coral closures has been proposed within the Irish EEZ, also based on a combination of scientific surveys, fishers' knowledge and VMS (ICES 2007b). Further challenges to designing an ecologically robust network of closures remain, such as the need for an increased understanding of cold-water coral food webs and of larval transport to and from proposed closures, which could be tackled using molecular approaches (Le Goff-Vitry et al 2004, van Oevelen et al 2009). Effective surveillance and enforcement are critical to the protection of coral in these areas, which will be helped by VMS records which include data on the gear in use and vessel activity.…”