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Fine-scale genetic structure of the threatened red coral, Corallium rubrum (Linnaeus, 1758) inferred from microsatellite markers

The precious Mediterranean red coral, Corallium rubrum, is ecosystem engineer with essential role in structuring and functioning of coralligenous outcrops, which are among the richest but also the most threatened Mediterranean habitats. The main threats to the red coral are intensive historical fishing for its use in jewellery and climate-induced mass mortality events. The high longevity and slow population dynamics of C. rubrum make this species exceptionally vulnerable when faced with sources of strong disturbances. In this sense, the knowledge of population dynamics is central for management and conservation purposes. The main objectives of this study were, combining population genetics, spatial distribution analyses and demography, to characterize the pattern of fine-spatial scale genetic and kinship structure among C. rubrum colonies over an area of two square meters from a population situated in the marine protected area in the Mediterranean Sea (Scandola, Corsica). Based on these patterns, underlying microevolutionary processes acting in the study population were inferred with particular emphasize on dispersal. Our results demonstrated significant spatial genetic structure (SGS) and individual spatial aggregation within sampled population. Based on this SGS, the mean dispersal within population was estimated to range between 53 and 76 cm, confirming restricted dispersal abilities of this species. Kinship analysis on these samples showed a complex level of half-sib relationships, confirming multiple mating between genetically related colonies suggesting the occurrence of biparental inbreeding. Our results expand previous findings, implying that C. rubrum populations are closed and that local processes has a central role in their biology, which has important implications for the conservation of red coral.

Corallium rubrum, dispersal, genetic drift, kinship structure, spatial genetic structure

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