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Journal article
High levels of genetic connectivity in the corallivorous gastropod Drupella cornus (Rӧding, 1798) in an expanding latitudinal range along Western Australia
Marine biodiversity, Vol.55(1), 7
2025
Abstract
Understanding connectivity in high impact corallivores is crucial for coral reef management. The obligate corallivorous Drupella cornus (Röding, 1798) has caused extensive damage to some Indian Ocean coral reef areas in the last four decades. This study used novel and previously published Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) sequences to reveal patterns of genetic diversity, phylogeography and connectivity within D. cornus across the Indian Ocean. The genetic compositions of the Western Australian D. cornus groups from Ningaloo Reef, Houtman Abrolhos Islands, and a recently discovered group at Rottnest Island, were analysed and compared to D. cornus groups from the western Indian Ocean (Tanzania and the Gulf of Eilat). The findings indicated that these groups all belong to the same species, except for a few individuals from Rottnest Island, which were excluded from subsequent analyses. No genetically distinct D. cornus groups along the Western Australian coastline were found, whereas molecular population differences were seen between the western Indian Ocean D. cornus groups and the Western Australian D. cornus groups. The molecular differences between the Western Australian and Tanzanian groups were statistically significant; however, there was evidence of historic connections and possibly also occasional long-distance gene flow between these groups. We hypothesise that high-density D. cornus outbreaks have played an important role in the dispersal of this species across Western Australia and, more broadly, the Indian Ocean. This is important as Drupella spp. outbreaks are being reported more frequently in the Indo-Pacific, affecting coral reef health and ecosystem function.
Details
- Title
- High levels of genetic connectivity in the corallivorous gastropod Drupella cornus (Rӧding, 1798) in an expanding latitudinal range along Western Australia
- Authors/Creators
- Veera M. Haslam - Murdoch UniversityPaige J. Maroni - Western Australian MuseumJennifer A. Chaplin - Murdoch University, School of Environmental and Conservation SciencesCindy Bessey - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research OrganisationMike van Keulen - Murdoch University, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems
- Publication Details
- Marine biodiversity, Vol.55(1), 7
- Publisher
- Springer Berlin Heidelberg
- Number of pages
- 18
- Grant note
- Murdoch University Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment (http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100008190) Research Training Program Scholarship (PhD) / Murdoch University (http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001799)
- Identifiers
- 991005731477907891
- Copyright
- © The Author(s) 2025
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems; School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Citation topics
- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.2 Marine Biology
- 3.2.570 Coral Reef Ecology
- Web Of Science research areas
- Biodiversity Conservation
- Marine & Freshwater Biology
- ESI research areas
- Environment/Ecology