Being Isolated and Protected Is Better Than Just Being Isolated: A Case Study From the Alacranes Reef, Mexico

Depth-Dependent Genetic Structuring of a Depth-Generalist Coral and Its Symbiodiniaceae Algal Communities at Campeche Bank, Mexico

“…Montastraea cavernosa is a depth-generalist coral species that has been widely used to estimate levels of vertical genetic connectivity and quantify depth-dependent structuring of its Symbiodiniaceae communities (Serrano et al, 2014;Polinski and Voss, 2018;Studivan and Voss, 2018b;Eckert et al, 2019;Dodge et al, 2020;Eckert et al, 2020;Drury et al, 2020;Sturm et al, 2020). This species is dominant across the majority of reefs throughout the Tropical Western Atlantic, occurs across depths ranging from 3-113 m, and is a broadcast spawning species which may support potentially high levels of genetic connectivity across wide geographic and depth ranges (Reed, 1985;Szmant, 1991;Favoretto et al, 2020). Like most broadcast spawning species, M. cavernosa acquires its algal symbionts from the surrounding environment during early ontogeny (Abrego et al, 2009;Baird et al, 2009).…”

“…The Campeche Bank reef system consists of a series of coral platforms which include Alacranes reef, the largest bank-atoll system in the Gulf of Mexico. Alacranes is located ~135 km off the coast of the Yucatan peninsula and ranges in depth from ~1-55 m (Chavez et al, 2007;Favoretto et al, 2020). To the northeast of Alacranes reef is the relatively less characterized Bajos del Norte reef system, which consists of a series of submarine coral ridges which are located ~160 km to the north of the Yucatan peninsula and range from ~5-70 m depth (Tuz-Sulub and Brule, 2015;Favoretto et al, 2020).…”

“…Alacranes is located ~135 km off the coast of the Yucatan peninsula and ranges in depth from ~1-55 m (Chavez et al, 2007;Favoretto et al, 2020). To the northeast of Alacranes reef is the relatively less characterized Bajos del Norte reef system, which consists of a series of submarine coral ridges which are located ~160 km to the north of the Yucatan peninsula and range from ~5-70 m depth (Tuz-Sulub and Brule, 2015;Favoretto et al, 2020). Montastraea cavernosa is the dominant scleractinian species across both Alacranes and Bajos del Norte reefs which represent important, although still understudied, shallow and mesophotic habitat for the species (Favoretto et al, 2020).…”

“…To the northeast of Alacranes reef is the relatively less characterized Bajos del Norte reef system, which consists of a series of submarine coral ridges which are located ~160 km to the north of the Yucatan peninsula and range from ~5-70 m depth (Tuz-Sulub and Brule, 2015;Favoretto et al, 2020). Montastraea cavernosa is the dominant scleractinian species across both Alacranes and Bajos del Norte reefs which represent important, although still understudied, shallow and mesophotic habitat for the species (Favoretto et al, 2020). These reefs provide an opportunity to investigate patterns of genetic differentiation of both coral hosts and their Symbiodiniaceae communities across a shallow to mesophotic depth gradient.…”

Integrating parasite assemblages and host genetics for population discrimination in the black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci) in natural protected areas of the northern Yucatan peninsula

“…All around the world increased fishing pressure has resulted in overexploitation of populations with declines in overall abundance of populations and average fish size along with loss of genetic diversity (Marchal et al ., 2003; Froese, 2004; Pérez-Ruzafa et al ., 2006; Favoretto et al ., 2020). A major management strategy for fisheries and marine conservation has been the implementation of natural protected areas (NPAs), whose success is based on the connectivity between populations (Palumbi, 2003; Galindo et al ., 2006; Green et al ., 2015; Salles et al ., 2015), thus understanding the extent of connectivity between fragmented populations is integral to understanding the stability of the subpopulations and their patterns of dispersal (Cowen et al ., 2000, 2006; Christie et al ., 2010).…”