Genetic affinities between corals on the Flower Garden Banks vs. oil/gas platforms in the northern Gulf of Mexico: implications for dispersal

Abstract

From Conclusions: “Based on these results, we conclude that, counter to current theory regarding larval dispersal in corals, populations of brooding species such as Madracis decactis are highly effective at dispersing their larvae over a wide region where suitable habitats are inter-dispersed at distances on the order of kms to tens of kms. They are able to carry this dispersal out via the “stepping stone” strategy common in many populations of organisms. Species such as this one appear to be more effective at this type of dispersal than broadcasting species, e.g. Diploria strigosa or Montastraea cavernosa. Future studies over a larger geographic range, e.g. hundreds to thousands of kms, will indicate whether broadcast larvae are more effective at dispersing over larger distances. We also conclude that AFLPs are an appropriate and powerful tool by which to conduct DNA fingerprinting studies on scleractinian corals and determine degrees of genetic affinity between populations within a species.”