Linking Spatial Patterns of Adult and Seed Diversity Across the Depth Gradient in the Seagrass Zostera marina L.

Hays, Cynthia G.; Hanley, Torrance C.; Graves, Rachel M.; Schenck, Forest R.; Hughes, Andrew J.

doi:10.1007/s12237-020-00813-1

Cited by 9 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 78 publications

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“…data), and allozymes (Ruckelshaus, 1998), suggesting that gene flow is often limited, consistent with direct measures of pollen and seed dispersal (Orth et al, 1994;Ruckelshaus, 1996). Paternity and pedigree analyses also confirm that pollen flow is largely, though not completely, restricted to <10 m (Furman et al, 2015;Hays et al, 2021), in accord with molecular patterns of kinship structure observed at multiple scales (Hämmerli and Reusch, 2003;Billingham et al, 2007;Kamel et al, 2012;Furman et al, 2015).…”

Section: Temperate Seagrass Zostera Marinasupporting

confidence: 55%

“…Zostera marina (eelgrass) is the dominant meadowforming seagrass in temperate regions worldwide, found intertidally to depths of typically ∼5-6 m. Like P. oceanica, Z. marina shows pronounced trait variation across this gradient, with shallower depths consistently characterized by higher shoot densities than deeper depths, but shoot length and weight varying across depths in different directions, depend-ing on region and site (Olesen et al, 2017;Krause-Jensen et al, 2000;Hays et al, 2021;von Staats et al, 2021). Reproductive allocation patterns (i.e., vegetative propagation vs. sexual reproduction via flower and seed production) also often differ across the depth gradient within meadows (Kim et al, 2014;Olesen et al, 2017;Hays et al, 2021;but see von Staats et al, 2021).…”

Section: Temperate Seagrass Zostera Marinamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Molecular genetic structure across depths in Z. marina has been observed in microsatellite markers (Billingham et al, 2007;Kamel et al, 2012;Hays et al, 2021), SNPs (Oetjen et al, 2010; EES, CGH, TCH, ARH, unpubl. data), and allozymes (Ruckelshaus, 1998), suggesting that gene flow is often limited, consistent with direct measures of pollen and seed dispersal (Orth et al, 1994;Ruckelshaus, 1996).…”

Section: Temperate Seagrass Zostera Marinamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Another life-history characteristic common to many marine foundation species (e.g., corals, seagrasses, marsh grasses, some seaweeds) is a mixed reproductive system that includes both clonal and sexual reproduction. The degree of clonality observed in marine foundation species varies both geographically (e.g., Coyer et al, 2004;Baums et al, 2006;Torres et al, 2020) and across environmental gradients spanned by individual populations (e.g., Hughes and Lotterhos, 2014;Olesen et al, 2017;Hays et al, 2021). Both extrinsic and intrinsic factors contribute to realized mating system differences, such that difference in clonal structure within and across sites may reflect differential reproductive effort (genotypes that allocate more energy to sexual reproduction) or differential reproductive success (environments that favor the establishment of particular types of propagules).…”

Section: Life History and Mating Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Local Adaptation in Marine Foundation Species at Microgeographic Scales

Hays

Hanley

Hughes

et al. 2021

The Biological Bulletin

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Nearshore foundation species in coastal and estuarine systems (e.g., salt marsh grasses, mangroves, seagrasses, corals) drive the ecological functions of ecosystems and entire biomes by creating physical structure that alters local abiotic conditions and influences species interactions and composition. The resilience of foundation species and the ecosystem functions they provide depends on their phenotypic and genetic responses to spatial and temporal shifts in environmental conditions. In this review, we explore what is known about the causes and consequences of adaptive genetic differentiation in marine foundation species over spatial scales shorter than dispersal capabilities (i.e., microgeographic scales). We describe the strength of coupling field and laboratory experiments with population genetic techniques to illuminate patterns of local adaptation, and we illustrate this approach by using several foundation species. Among the major themes that emerge from our review include (1) adaptive differentiation of marine foundation species repeatedly evolves along vertical (i.e., elevation or depth) gradients, and (2) mating system and phenology may facilitate this differentiation. Microgeographic adaptation is an understudied mechanism potentially underpinning the resilience of many sessile marine species, and this evolutionary mechanism likely has particularly important consequences for the ecosystem functions provided by foundation species.

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Section: Temperate Seagrass Zostera Marinasupporting

confidence: 55%

Section: Temperate Seagrass Zostera Marinamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Temperate Seagrass Zostera Marinamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Life History and Mating Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Local Adaptation in Marine Foundation Species at Microgeographic Scales

Hays

Hanley

Hughes

et al. 2021

The Biological Bulletin

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show abstract

“…While we do not probe mechanisms in our observational field study, the relationship between flowering versus clonal reproduction and depth could potentially explain our findings. However, the relationship between environment, flowering, and genetic diversity in Z. marina is complex and remains a key challenge to understand, as discussed by Hays et al (2021) .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environment predicts seagrass genotype, phenotype, and associated biodiversity in a temperate ecosystem

et al. 2022

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Coastal vegetative ecosystems are among the most threatened in the world, facing multiple anthropogenic stressors. A good example of this is seagrass, which supports carbon capture, coastal stabilization, and biodiversity, but is declining globally at an alarming rate. To understand the causes and consequences of changes to these ecosystems, we need to determine the linkages between different biotic and abiotic components. We used data on the seagrass, Zostera marina, collected by citizen scientists across 300 km of the south coast of the United Kingdom as a case study. We assembled data on seagrass genotype, phenotype, infauna, and associated bathymetry, light, sea surface temperature, and wave and current energy to test hypotheses on the distribution and diversity of this temperate sub-tidal ecosystem. We found spatial structure in population genetics, evident through local assortment of genotypes and isolation by distance across a broader geographic scale. By integrating our molecular data with information on seagrass phenotype and infauna, we demonstrate that these ecosystem components are primarily linked indirectly through the effects of shared environmental factors. It is unusual to examine genotypic, phenotypic, and environmental data in a single study, but this approach can inform both conservation and restoration of seagrass, as well as giving new insights into a widespread and important ecosystem.

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Multiple paternity, fertilization success, and male quality: Mating system variation in the eelgrass, Zostera marina

Sgambelluri,

Jarvis,

Kamel

2024

Ecology and Evolution

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Genetic diversity can modulate a population's response to a changing environment and plays a critical role in its ecological function. While multiple processes act to maintain genetic diversity, sexual reproduction remains the primary driving force. Eelgrass (Zostera marina) is an important habitat‐forming species found in temperate coastal ecosystems across the globe. Recent increases in sea surface temperatures have resulted in shifts to a mixed‐annual life‐history strategy (i.e., displaying characteristics of both annual and perennial meadows) at its southern edge‐of‐range. Given that mating systems are intimately linked to standing levels of genetic variation, understanding the scope of sexual reproduction can illuminate the processes that shape genetic diversity. To characterize edge‐of‐range eelgrass mating systems, developing seeds on flowering Z. marina shoots were genotyped from three meadows in Topsail, North Carolina. In all meadows, levels of multiple mating were high, with shoots pollinated by an average of eight sires (range: 3–16). The number of fertilized seeds (i.e., reproductive success) varied significantly across sires (range: 1–25) and was positively correlated with both individual heterozygosity and self‐fertilization. Outcrossing rates were high (approx. 70%) and varied across spathes. No clones were detected, and kinship among sampled flowering shoots was low, supporting observed patterns of reproductive output. Given the role that genetic diversity plays in enhancing resistance to and resilience from ecological disturbance, disentangling the links between life history, sexual reproduction, and genetic variation will aid in informing the management and conservation of this key foundation species.

show abstract

Linking Spatial Patterns of Adult and Seed Diversity Across the Depth Gradient in the Seagrass Zostera marina L.

Cited by 9 publications

References 78 publications

Local Adaptation in Marine Foundation Species at Microgeographic Scales

Local Adaptation in Marine Foundation Species at Microgeographic Scales

Environment predicts seagrass genotype, phenotype, and associated biodiversity in a temperate ecosystem

Multiple paternity, fertilization success, and male quality: Mating system variation in the eelgrass, Zostera marina

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