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Nguyen HM, Hong UVT, Ruocco M, Dattolo E, Marín-Guirao L, Pernice M, Procaccini G. Thermo-priming triggers species-specific physiological and transcriptome responses in Mediterranean seagrasses. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2024; 210:108614. [PMID: 38626655 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
Heat-priming improves plants' tolerance to a recurring heat stress event. The underlying molecular mechanisms of heat-priming are largely unknown in seagrasses. Here, ad hoc mesocosm experiments were conducted with two Mediterranean seagrass species, Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa. Plants were first exposed to heat-priming, followed by a heat-triggering event. A comprehensive assessment of plant stress response across different levels of biological organization was performed at the end of the triggering event. Morphological and physiological results showed an improved response of heat-primed P. oceanica plants while in C. nodosa both heat- and non-primed plants enhanced their growth rates at the end of the triggering event. As resulting from whole transcriptome sequencing, molecular functions related to several cellular compartments and processes were involved in the response to warming of non-primed plants, while the response of heat-primed plants involved a limited group of processes. Our results suggest that seagrasses acquire a primed state during the priming event, that eventually gives plants the ability to induce a more energy-effective response when the thermal stress event recurs. Different species may differ in their ability to perform an improved heat stress response after priming. This study provides pioneer molecular insights into the emerging topic of seagrass stress priming and may benefit future studies in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung Manh Nguyen
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy
| | - Uyen V T Hong
- La Trobe University, AgriBio Building, Bundoora, 3086, VIC, Australia; Department of Plant Biotechnology & Biotransformation, University of Science, Vietnam National University, 700000, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Miriam Ruocco
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy
| | - Emanuela Dattolo
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Piazza Marina 61, 90133, Palermo, Italy
| | - Lázaro Marín-Guirao
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy; Oceanographic Center of Murcia, Seagrass Ecology Group, Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC), C/Varadero, San Pedro del Pinatar, 30740, Murcia, Spain.
| | - Mathieu Pernice
- Faculty of Science, Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, 2007, NSW, Australia
| | - Gabriele Procaccini
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Piazza Marina 61, 90133, Palermo, Italy
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2
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Ruocco M, Jahnke M, Silva J, Procaccini G, Dattolo E. 2b-RAD Genotyping of the Seagrass Cymodocea nodosa Along a Latitudinal Cline Identifies Candidate Genes for Environmental Adaptation. Front Genet 2022; 13:866758. [PMID: 35651946 PMCID: PMC9149362 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.866758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant populations distributed along broad latitudinal gradients often show patterns of clinal variation in genotype and phenotype. Differences in photoperiod and temperature cues across latitudes influence major phenological events, such as timing of flowering or seed dormancy. Here, we used an array of 4,941 SNPs derived from 2b-RAD genotyping to characterize population differentiation and levels of genetic and genotypic diversity of three populations of the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa along a latitudinal gradient extending across the Atlantic-Mediterranean boundary (i.e., Gran Canaria—Canary Islands, Faro—Portugal, and Ebro Delta—Spain). Our main goal was to search for potential outlier loci that could underlie adaptive differentiation of populations across the latitudinal distribution of the species. We hypothesized that such polymorphisms could be related to variation in photoperiod-temperature regime occurring across latitudes. The three populations were clearly differentiated and exhibited diverse levels of clonality and genetic diversity. Cymodocea nodosa from the Mediterranean displayed the highest genotypic richness, while the Portuguese population had the highest clonality values. Gran Canaria exhibited the lowest genetic diversity (as observed heterozygosity). Nine SNPs were reliably identified as outliers across the three sites by two different methods (i.e., BayeScan and pcadapt), and three SNPs could be associated to specific protein-coding genes by screening available C. nodosa transcriptomes. Two SNPs-carrying contigs encoded for transcription factors, while the other one encoded for an enzyme specifically involved in the regulation of flowering time, namely Lysine-specific histone demethylase 1 homolog 2. When analyzing biological processes enriched within the whole dataset of outlier SNPs identified by at least one method, “regulation of transcription” and “signalling” were among the most represented. Our results highlight the fundamental importance signal integration and gene-regulatory networks, as well as epigenetic regulation via DNA (de)methylation, could have for enabling adaptation of seagrass populations along environmental gradients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marlene Jahnke
- Department of Marine Sciences, Tjärnö Marine Laboratory, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - João Silva
- Centre of Marine Sciences, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal
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3
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The Genetic Component of Seagrass Restoration: What We Know and the Way Forwards. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13060829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Seagrasses are marine flowering plants providing key ecological services and functions in coasts and estuaries across the globe. Increased environmental changes fueled by human activities are affecting their existence, compromising natural habitats and ecosystems’ biodiversity and functioning. In this context, restoration of disturbed seagrass environments has become a worldwide priority to reverse ecosystem degradation and to recover ecosystem functionality and associated services. Despite the proven importance of genetic research to perform successful restoration projects, this aspect has often been overlooked in seagrass restoration. Here, we aimed to provide a comprehensive perspective of genetic aspects related to seagrass restoration. To this end, we first reviewed the importance of studying the genetic diversity and population structure of target seagrass populations; then, we discussed the pros and cons of different approaches used to restore and/or reinforce degraded populations. In general, the collection of genetic information and the development of connectivity maps are critical steps for any seagrass restoration activity. Traditionally, the selection of donor population preferred the use of local gene pools, thought to be the best adapted to current conditions. However, in the face of rapid ocean changes, alternative approaches such as the use of climate-adjusted or admixture genotypes might provide more sustainable options to secure the survival of restored meadows. Also, we discussed different transplantation strategies applied in seagrasses and emphasized the importance of long-term seagrass monitoring in restoration. The newly developed information on epigenetics as well as the application of assisted evolution strategies were also explored. Finally, a view of legal and ethical issues related to national and international restoration management is included, highlighting improvements and potential new directions to integrate with the genetic assessment. We concluded that a good restoration effort should incorporate: (1) a good understanding of the genetic structure of both donors and populations being restored; (2) the analysis of local environmental conditions and disturbances that affect the site to be restored; (3) the analysis of local adaptation constraints influencing the performances of donor populations and native plants; (4) the integration of distribution/connectivity maps with genetic information and environmental factors relative to the target seagrass populations; (5) the planning of long-term monitoring programs to assess the performance of the restored populations. The inclusion of epigenetic knowledge and the development of assisted evolution programs are strongly hoped for the future.
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Jahnke M, Moksnes PO, Olsen JL, Serra Serra N, Nilsson Jacobi M, Kuusemäe K, Corell H, Jonsson PR. Integrating genetics, biophysical, and demographic insights identifies critical sites for seagrass conservation. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2020; 30:e02121. [PMID: 32159897 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The eelgrass Zostera marina is an important foundation species of coastal areas in the Northern Hemisphere, but is continuing to decline, despite management actions. The development of new management tools is therefore urgent in order to prioritize limited resources for protecting meadows most vulnerable to local extinctions and identifying most valuable present and historic meadows to protect and restore, respectively. We assessed 377 eelgrass meadows along the complex coastlines of two fjord regions on the Swedish west coast-one is currently healthy and the other is substantially degraded. Shoot dispersal for all meadows was assessed with Lagrangian biophysical modeling (scale: 100-1,000 m) and used for barrier analysis and clustering; a subset (n = 22) was also assessed with population genetic methods (20 microsatellites) including diversity, structure, and network connectivity. Both approaches were in very good agreement, resulting in seven subpopulation groupings or management units (MUs). The MUs correspond to a spatial scale appropriate for coastal management of "waterbodies" used in the European Water Framework Directive. Adding demographic modeling based on the genetic and biophysical data as a third approach, we are able to assess past, present, and future metapopulation dynamics to identify especially vulnerable and valuable meadows. In a further application, we show how the biophysical approach, using eigenvalue perturbation theory (EPT) and distribution records from the 1980s, can be used to identify lost meadows where restoration would best benefit the present metapopulation. The combination of methods, presented here as a toolbox, allows the assessment of different temporal and spatial scales at the same time, as well as ranking of specific meadows according to key genetic, demographic and ecological metrics. It could be applied to any species or region, and we exemplify its versatility as a management guide for eelgrass along the Swedish west coast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlene Jahnke
- Department of Marine Sciences - Tjärnö Marine Laboratory, University of Gothenburg, SE-45296, Strömstad, Sweden
| | - Per-Olav Moksnes
- Department of Marine Science, University of Gothenburg, SE-40530, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jeanine L Olsen
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, Section: Ecology and Evolutionary Genomics in Nature (GREEN), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Núria Serra Serra
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, Section: Ecology and Evolutionary Genomics in Nature (GREEN), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Martin Nilsson Jacobi
- Complex Systems Group, Department of Energy and Environment, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | | | - Hanna Corell
- DHI Sverige, Svartmangatan 18, SE-111 29, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Per R Jonsson
- Department of Marine Sciences - Tjärnö Marine Laboratory, University of Gothenburg, SE-45296, Strömstad, Sweden
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Melià P, Casagrandi R, Di Franco A, Guidetti P, Gatto M. Protection reveals density-dependent dynamics in fish populations: A case study in the central Mediterranean. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0228604. [PMID: 32012196 PMCID: PMC6996820 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Casting light on how the interaction between protection and density dependence affects fish population dynamics is critical for understanding the effectiveness of marine protected areas (MPAs). We developed a framework based on nonparametric statistics, model selection and multi-model inference to contrast alternative hypotheses about the effect of density dependence on demographic dynamics under protected and unprotected conditions. We trialed it using a 12-year long time series of white seabream (Diplodus sargus sargus) population density within the no-take zone of Torre Guaceto MPA (Italy) and at two nearby unprotected locations. Then, we showed how the demographic models obtained can be used to assess the consequences of protection on population viability. Population dynamics were significantly influenced by fish density within the MPA and at one of the unprotected locations, where demography is possibly driven by directional recruitment subsidy from the MPA. The comparison of population growth rates within and outside the MPA suggests that in unprotected conditions the fishery may remove a fraction between 40 and 70% of the population each year. The population viability analysis pointed out that, while the probability that the population becomes depleted (i.e. undergoes a local, temporary quasi-extinction) is high in unprotected locations, it is negligible within the no-take zone of the MPA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paco Melià
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Renato Casagrandi
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Antonio Di Franco
- Dipartimento Ecologia Marina Integrata, Sede Interdipartimentale della Sicilia, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo (complesso Roosevelt), Palermo, Italy
- Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, UMR 7035 ECOSEAS, Nice, France
| | - Paolo Guidetti
- Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, UMR 7035 ECOSEAS, Nice, France
- CoNISMa, Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare, Roma, Italy
| | - Marino Gatto
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
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Mari L, Melià P, Fraschetti S, Gatto M, Casagrandi R. Spatial patterns and temporal variability of seagrass connectivity in the Mediterranean Sea. DIVERS DISTRIB 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Mari
- Dipartimento di Elettronica Informazione e Bioingegneria Politecnico di Milano Milano Italy
| | - Paco Melià
- Dipartimento di Elettronica Informazione e Bioingegneria Politecnico di Milano Milano Italy
| | - Simona Fraschetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali Università del Salento Lecce Italy
| | - Marino Gatto
- Dipartimento di Elettronica Informazione e Bioingegneria Politecnico di Milano Milano Italy
| | - Renato Casagrandi
- Dipartimento di Elettronica Informazione e Bioingegneria Politecnico di Milano Milano Italy
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7
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López-Márquez V, Templado J, Buckley D, Marino I, Boscari E, Micu D, Zane L, Machordom A. Connectivity Among Populations of the Top Shell Gibbula divaricata in the Adriatic Sea. Front Genet 2019; 10:177. [PMID: 30906312 PMCID: PMC6418013 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic connectivity studies are essential to understand species diversity and genetic structure and to assess the role of potential factors affecting connectivity, thus enabling sound management and conservation strategies. Here, we analyzed the patterns of genetic variability in the marine snail Gibbula divaricata from five coastal locations in the central-south Adriatic Sea (central Mediterranean) and one in the adjacent northern Ionian Sea, using 21 described polymorphic microsatellite loci. Observed and expected heterozygosity varied from 0.582 to 0.635 and 0.684 to 0.780, respectively. AMOVA analyses showed that 97% of genetic variation was observed within populations. Nevertheless, significant, although small, genetic differentiation was found among nearly all of the pairwise F ST comparisons. Over a general pattern of panmixia, three groups of populations were identified: eastern Adriatic populations, western Adriatic populations, and a third group represented by the single northern Ionian Sea population. Nonetheless, migration and gene flow were significant between these groups. Gibbula divaricata is thought to have a limited dispersal capacity related to its lecithotrophic trochophore larval stage. Our results indicated high levels of self-recruitment and gene flow that is mainly driven through coastline dispersion, with populations separated by the lack of suitable habitats or deep waters. This stepping-stone mode of dispersion together with the high levels of self-recruitment could lead to higher levels of population structuring and differentiation along the Adriatic Sea. Large effective population sizes and episodic events of long-distance dispersal might be responsible for the weak differentiation observed in the analyzed populations. In summary, the circulation system operating in this region creates natural barriers for dispersion that, together with life-history traits and habitat requirements, certainly affect connectivity in G. divaricata. However, this scenario of potential differentiation seems to be overridden by sporadic events of long-distance dispersal across barriers and large effective population sizes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Violeta López-Márquez
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales – Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Templado
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales – Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
| | - David Buckley
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales – Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
- Centre D’Estudis Avançats de Blanes – Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Girona, Spain
- Departamento de Biología (Unidad de Genética), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ilaria Marino
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Elisa Boscari
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Dragos Micu
- National Institute for Marine Research and Development “Grigore Antipa”, Constanta, Romania
| | - Lorenzo Zane
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare, Rome, Italy
| | - Annie Machordom
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales – Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
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8
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Balbar AC, Metaxas A. The current application of ecological connectivity in the design of marine protected areas. Glob Ecol Conserv 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
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9
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Sinclair EA, Ruiz‐Montoya L, Krauss SL, Anthony JM, Hovey RK, Lowe RJ, Kendrick GA. Seeds in motion: Genetic assignment and hydrodynamic models demonstrate concordant patterns of seagrass dispersal. Mol Ecol 2018; 27:5019-5034. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.14939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2017] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A. Sinclair
- School of Biological Sciences University of Western Australia Crawley Western Australia Australia
- Kings Park Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions West Perth Western Australia Australia
- Oceans Institute University of Western Australia Crawley Western Australia Australia
| | - Leonardo Ruiz‐Montoya
- School of Biological Sciences University of Western Australia Crawley Western Australia Australia
- Oceans Institute University of Western Australia Crawley Western Australia Australia
| | - Siegfried L. Krauss
- School of Biological Sciences University of Western Australia Crawley Western Australia Australia
- Kings Park Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions West Perth Western Australia Australia
| | - Janet M. Anthony
- School of Biological Sciences University of Western Australia Crawley Western Australia Australia
- Kings Park Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions West Perth Western Australia Australia
| | - Renae K. Hovey
- School of Biological Sciences University of Western Australia Crawley Western Australia Australia
- Oceans Institute University of Western Australia Crawley Western Australia Australia
| | - Ryan J. Lowe
- Oceans Institute University of Western Australia Crawley Western Australia Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies University of Western Australia Crawley Western Australia Australia
| | - Gary A. Kendrick
- School of Biological Sciences University of Western Australia Crawley Western Australia Australia
- Oceans Institute University of Western Australia Crawley Western Australia Australia
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10
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Chefaoui RM, Duarte CM, Serrão EA. Dramatic loss of seagrass habitat under projected climate change in the Mediterranean Sea. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2018; 24:4919-4928. [PMID: 30006980 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Although climate warming is affecting most marine ecosystems, the Mediterranean is showing earlier impacts. Foundation seagrasses are already experiencing a well-documented regression in the Mediterranean which could be aggravated by climate change. Here, we forecast distributions of two seagrasses and contrast predicted loss with discrete regions identified on the basis of extant genetic diversity. Under the worst-case scenario, Posidonia oceanica might lose 75% of suitable habitat by 2050 and is at risk of functional extinction by 2100, whereas Cymodocea nodosa would lose only 46.5% in that scenario as losses are compensated with gained and stable areas in the Atlantic. Besides, we predict that erosion of present genetic diversity and vicariant processes can happen, as all Mediterranean genetic regions could decrease considerably in extension in future warming scenarios. The functional extinction of Posidonia oceanica would have important ecological impacts and may also lead to the release of the massive carbon stocks these ecosystems stored over millennia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa M Chefaoui
- CCMAR-Centro de Ciências do Mar, CIMAR Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| | - Carlos M Duarte
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ester A Serrão
- CCMAR-Centro de Ciências do Mar, CIMAR Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal
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11
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Jahnke M, D'Esposito D, Orrù L, Lamontanara A, Dattolo E, Badalamenti F, Mazzuca S, Procaccini G, Orsini L. Adaptive responses along a depth and a latitudinal gradient in the endemic seagrass Posidonia oceanica. Heredity (Edinb) 2018; 122:233-243. [PMID: 29955171 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-018-0103-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Revised: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Seagrass meadows provide important ecosystem services and are critical for the survival of the associated invertebrate community. However, they are threatened worldwide by human-driven environmental change. Understanding the seagrasses' potential for adaptation is critical to assess not only their ability to persist under future global change scenarios, but also to assess the persistence of the associated communities. Here we screened a wild population of Posidonia oceanica, an endemic long-lived seagrass in the Mediterranean Sea, for genes that may be target of environmental selection, using an outlier and a genome-wide transcriptome analysis. We identified loci where polymorphism or differential expression was associated with either a latitudinal or a bathymetric gradient, as well as with both gradients in an effort to identify loci associated with temperature and light. We found the candidate genes underlying growth and immunity to be divergent between populations adapted to different latitudes and/or depths, providing evidence for local adaptation. Furthermore, we found evidence of reduced gene flow among populations including adjacent populations. Reduced gene flow, combined with low sexual recombination, small effective population size, and long generation time of P. oceanica raises concerns for the long-term persistence of this species, especially in the face of rapid environmental change driven by human activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlene Jahnke
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy
| | - Daniela D'Esposito
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy
| | - Luigi Orrù
- Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria, Centro di ricerca per la genomica vegetale, 29017, Fiorenzuola d'Arda, Italy
| | - Antonella Lamontanara
- Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria, Centro di ricerca per la genomica vegetale, 29017, Fiorenzuola d'Arda, Italy
| | - Emanuela Dattolo
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy
| | - Fabio Badalamenti
- CNR-IAMC, Via G. Da Verrazzano 17, 91014, Castellammare del Golfo, TP, Italy
| | - Silvia Mazzuca
- Department of Chemistry and Technology, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - Gabriele Procaccini
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy.
| | - Luisa Orsini
- Environmental Genomics Group, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
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12
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Jahnke M, Jonsson PR, Moksnes P, Loo L, Nilsson Jacobi M, Olsen JL. Seascape genetics and biophysical connectivity modelling support conservation of the seagrass Zostera marina in the Skagerrak-Kattegat region of the eastern North Sea. Evol Appl 2018; 11:645-661. [PMID: 29875808 PMCID: PMC5979629 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Maintaining and enabling evolutionary processes within meta-populations are critical to resistance, resilience and adaptive potential. Knowledge about which populations act as sources or sinks, and the direction of gene flow, can help to focus conservation efforts more effectively and forecast how populations might respond to future anthropogenic and environmental pressures. As a foundation species and habitat provider, Zostera marina (eelgrass) is of critical importance to ecosystem functions including fisheries. Here, we estimate connectivity of Z. marina in the Skagerrak-Kattegat region of the North Sea based on genetic and biophysical modelling. Genetic diversity, population structure and migration were analysed at 23 locations using 20 microsatellite loci and a suite of analytical approaches. Oceanographic connectivity was analysed using Lagrangian dispersal simulations based on contemporary and historical distribution data dating back to the late 19th century. Population clusters, barriers and networks of connectivity were found to be very similar based on either genetic or oceanographic analyses. A single-generation model of dispersal was not realistic, whereas multigeneration models that integrate stepping-stone dispersal and extant and historic distribution data were able to capture and model genetic connectivity patterns well. Passive rafting of flowering shoots along oceanographic currents is the main driver of gene flow at this spatial-temporal scale, and extant genetic connectivity strongly reflects the "ghost of dispersal past" sensu Benzie, 1999. The identification of distinct clusters, connectivity hotspots and areas where connectivity has become limited over the last century is critical information for spatial management, conservation and restoration of eelgrass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlene Jahnke
- Department of Marine Sciences – TjärnöUniversity of GothenburgStrömstadSweden
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life SciencesSection: Ecology and Evolutionary Genomics in Nature (GREEN)University of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Per R. Jonsson
- Department of Marine Sciences – TjärnöUniversity of GothenburgStrömstadSweden
| | - Per‐Olav Moksnes
- Department of Marine ScienceUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
| | - Lars‐Ove Loo
- Department of Marine Sciences – TjärnöUniversity of GothenburgStrömstadSweden
| | - Martin Nilsson Jacobi
- Complex Systems GroupDepartment of Energy and EnvironmentChalmers University of TechnologyGothenburgSweden
| | - Jeanine L. Olsen
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life SciencesSection: Ecology and Evolutionary Genomics in Nature (GREEN)University of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
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