Genetic differentiation of annual Zostera marina L. growing in Kagoshima Bay, Kagoshima, Japan based on an analysis using microsatellite markers

Abstract

The Zostera marina bed is an important habitat for the biological productivity and diversity of coastal marine organisms including various importantˆshery species. Seed dispersal is a deˆnitive factor to that regulates the annual Z. marina production and is inportant for maintaining the annual Z. marina beds. This study examined the seed dispersal dynamics of the annual Z. marina based on a molecular analysis using 7 microsatellite markers and measuring the morphological characteristics of thallus in Kagoshima Bay, Japan. Samples for DNA analysis and morphological measurement were collected fromˆve local populations at 10 sites where annual Z. marina was found to be growing. Morphological characteristics of the Z. marina samples diŠered among local populations with diŠerent environmental conditions. Moreover, pairwise Fst values of microsatellite locus calculated from thê ve populations ranged from 0.112 to 0.415 (mean＝0.273), suggesting that the genetic diŠerentiation among local populations was markedly large. The results of this study indicated that the seed dispersal of annual Z. marina among local populations has rarely occurred for a long time.

Comparing the genetic diversity and population structure of sister marine snails having contrasting habitat specificity

“…Because sheltered coastal environments such as inner bays are spatially fragmented, and strong wave action between sheltered habitats prevents species having an "inner bay" specificity from colonizing [42], the T. kusairo living in the sheltered habitats accumulated genetic differentiation among populations. Furthermore, in the case of the large Kagoshima Bay, which embraces a sheltered habitat, the seagrass genus Zostera is genetically subdivided, even on the inner side of the bay [43]. Although the effect of habitat wave strength on population genetic differentiation appears to vary among marine taxa [44], our Although T. kusairo had lower genetic diversity indices than its sister species T. xanthostigma, its genetic diversity varied among locations.…”

Genetic effects of eelgrass restoration efforts by fishers' seeding to recover seagrass beds as an important natural capital for coastal ecosystem services

“…Next, genomic DNA from each sample was extracted and fragments were amplified. We genotyped all samples for seven microsatellite loci, which were developed to estimate genetic structure of eelgrass beds in the Japanese archipelago, using GeneMapper (Shimabukuro et al, 2012; Tanaka, Demise, Ishii, Shoji, & Nakaoka, 2011). Clonal richness, allelic richness, observed heterozygosity ( Ho ) and expected heterozygosity ( He ) at each site were determined as general genetic variables to estimate the characteristics of eelgrass life history in this area.…”