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Population genetic structure of Paramuricea clavata (Risso, 1826) in the eastern Adriatic as revealed by microsatellite markers

The red gorgonian Paramuricea clavata is a long-lived, slow-growing coral that contributes significantly to the biomass and structural complexity of the Mediterranean hard-bottom communities. In this research the population genetic structure of P. clavata in the eastern Adriatic was assessed for the first time. Thirteen locations in four geographical regions along the Adriatic Sea were genotyped using seven microsatellites. Gene diversity, population structure, dispersal patterns and connectivity among populations were analysed using hierarchical sampling scheme, from local to regional scale. Results showed strong genetic differentiation which was previously never recorded in the population genetic studies of benthic species in the Adriatic. Discussed results should be valuable for creating or improving management plans for Paramuricea clavata and other endangered species with similar life-history traits in the Adriatic Sea.

population genetics; red gorgonian; conservation biology; genetic clustering; isolation by distance

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