Genetic differentiation and phylogeography of partially sympatric species complex Rhizophora mucronata Lam. and R. stylosa Griff. using SSR markers
Year: 2015
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Mangrove forests are ecologically important but globally threatened intertidal plant communities. Effective mangrove conservation requires the determination of species identity, management units, and genetic structure. Here, we investigate the genetic distinctiveness and genetic structure of an iconic but yet taxonomically confusing species complex Rhizophora mucronata and R. stylosa across their distributional range, by employing a suite of 20 informative nuclear SSR markers. RESULTS: Our results demonstrated the general genetic distinctiveness of R. mucronata and R. stylosa, and potential hybridization or introgression between them. We investigated the population genetics of each species without the putative hybrids, and found strong genetic structure between oceanic regions in both R. mucronata and R. stylosa. In R. mucronata, a strong divergence was detected between populations from the Indian Ocean region (Indian Ocean and Andaman Sea) and the Pacific Ocean region (Malacca Strait, South China Sea and Northwest Pacific Ocean). In R. stylosa, the genetic break was located more eastward, between populations from South and East China Sea and populations from the Southwest Pacific Ocean. The location of these genetic breaks coincided with the boundaries of oceanic currents, thus suggesting that oceanic circulation patterns might have acted as a cryptic barrier to gene flow. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings have important implications on the conservation of mangroves, especially relating to replanting efforts and the definition of evolutionary significant units in Rhizophora species. We outlined the genetic structure and identified geographical areas that require further investigations for both R. mucronata and R. stylosa. These results serve as the foundation for the conservation genetics of R. mucronata and R. stylosa and highlighted the need to recognize the genetic distinctiveness of closely-related species, determine their respective genetic structure, and avoid artificially promoting hybridization in mangrove restoration programmes.
Source: BMC Evolutionary Biology
Authors: Alison K S Wee, Koji Takayama, Jasher L Chua, Takeshi Asakawa, Sankararamasubramanian H Meenakshisundaram, Onrizal, Bayu Adjie, Erwin Riyanto Ardli, Sarawood Sungkaew, Norhaslinda Binti Malekal, Nguyen Xuan Tung, Severino G Salmo, Orlex Baylen Yllano, M Nazre Saleh, Khin Khin Soe, Yoichi Tateishi, Yasuyuki Watano, Shigeyuki Baba, Edward L Webb, Tadashi Kajita
Institutions: Chiba University, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The University Museum, The University of Tokyo, The University of Tokyo, National University of Singapore, M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Jenderal Soedirman University, Kasetsart University, Hanoi National University of Education, Ateneo de Manila University, Adventist University of the Philippines, Universiti Putra Malaysia, University of Yangon, University of the Ryukyus, International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems, Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,290
Funders: National University of Singapore, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Kasetsart University, National Research Council of Thailand, University of Tokyo, Ateneo de Manila University, University of the Philippines, Fujiwara Natural History Foundation, Chiba University, University of the Ryukyus, Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Jenderal Soedirman University, Directorate for Biological Sciences, Đại học Quốc gia Hà Nội, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
OpenAlex ID: W2059920179