Genetic connectivity and diversity of the coral Siderastrea stellata along the Brazilian coast and oceanic islands

• Grant number: 23/14009-1
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - Brazil
• Duration: April 01, 2024 - March 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Oceanography - Biological Oceanography
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Visentini Kitahara
• Grantee: Marcelo Visentini Kitahara
• Visiting researcher: Carla Zilberberg
• Visiting researcher institution: Núcleo Em Ecologia E Desenvolvimento Sócio-Ambiental De Macaé/Nupem/Ufrj, Brazil
• Host Institution: Centro de Biologia Marinha (CEBIMAR). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Sebastião , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/06866-6 - Integrating tools and disciplines to understand the future of Southwestern Atlantic shallow-water corals in a changing planet, AP.JP2

Abstract

Scleractinian zooxanthellate corals are responsible for the formation of coral reefs, one of the most productive and diverse ecosystems on the planet, which have been suffering from local and global anthropogenic impacts. The resilience capacity of a population facing these environmental stresses is directly related to their levels of genetic diversity. Population connectivity is one of the most important factors for the maintenance of high levels of genetic diversity. Consequently, the comprehension of population connectivity patterns of reef forming corals is important for management of these ecosystems, since the persistence of its populations through time is directly related to their larval dispersal capacity. Brazil has the only true coral reefs in the South Atlantic Ocean, being distinct from the others around the world by occurring in places with high levels of sedimentation, possessing a reduced zooxanthellate coral richness, but with a large proportion of endemic species. With the intensification of anthropogenic impacts that has been leading to large events of coral mortality and threatening the survival of entire reefs, it is extremely important to gain knowledge about the genetic diversity and connectivity of the different Brazilian coral species, to predict the capacity of resistance and resilience of its populations. The present study will focus on using hyper-variable molecular markers (SNPs) to evaluate population genetic diversity and connectivity of the reef building coral Siderastrea stellata along the Brazilian coast and oceanic islands, in addition to estimate the intensity and direction of migration among populations to identify source and sink areas. The understanding of population connectivity, migration and genetic diversity patterns of this and other Brazilian reef building coral species will be important to evaluate the fragility of its populations in face of anthropogenic impacts, as well as, help determining the ideal size and location of environmental protection areas. (AU)