Genetic differentiation and signatures of local adaptation revealed by
RADseq for a highly-dispersive mud crab Scylla olivacea (Herbst,
1796) in the Sulu Sea
Abstract
Connectivity of marine populations is shaped by complex interactions of
biological and physical processes across the seascape. The influence of
environmental features on the genetic structure of populations has key
implications to the dynamics and persistence of populations, and an
understanding of spatial scales and patterns of connectivity is crucial
for management and conservation. This study employed a seascape genetics
approach combining larval dispersal modeling and population genomic
analysis based on RADseq to examine environmental factors influencing
patterns of genetic structure and connectivity for a highly-dispersive
mud crab, Scylla olivacea (Herbst, 1796) in the Sulu Sea.
Dispersal simulations reveal widespread but asymmetric larval dispersal
influenced by persistent southward and westward surface circulation
features in the Sulu Sea. Despite potential for widespread dispersal,
significant genetic differentiation was detected among eight Sulu Sea
populations based on 1,655 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers
(FST = 0.0057, p = 0.001) and a subset of
1,643 putatively neutral SNP markers (FST =
0.0042, p = 0.001). Oceanography influences genetic structure, as
redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed significant contribution of
asymmetric ocean currents to neutral genetic variation
(R2adj = 0.133; p =
0.035). Genetic structure may also reflect demographic factors, with
divergent populations characterized by low effective population sizes
(Ne < 50). Pronounced latitudinal
genetic structure was recovered for loci putatively under selection
(FST = 0.2390, p = 0.001), significantly
correlated with variability in mean sea surface temperatures during peak
spawning months of S. olivacea
(R2adj = 0.763; p =
0.041), suggesting putative signatures of selection and local adaptation
of early life history stages to thermal clines. This study contributes
to the growing body of literature documenting population genetic
structure and local adaptation for highly-dispersive marine species, and
provides information useful for spatial management of the fishery
resource.