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  • The Indo-Australian Archipelago.

    The Indo-Australian Archipelago.

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Genetic connectivity of seagrasses in the Indo-Australian Archipelago

Geneticconnectivity is a vital component in maintaining population persistence andresilience, thus highly relevant to conservation. It allows gene flow to spreadadvantageous genes and avoid local inbreeding. It also reduces the risk oflocal extinctions by facilitating continuous recruitment from other sites. TheIndo-Australian Archipelago (IAA) is well recognized as the hotspot of marinebiodiversity. Historical geology and contemporary oceanographic currents interactingwith the varying ecological and life histories of marine taxa result in varyingpatterns of marine connectivity in the IAA. To date, our understanding of marine connectivity in the IAA is basedoverwhelmingly on studies of fishes and invertebrates. Despite its important roles in coastal ecosystems,seagrass connectivity is poorly known in the IAA. This project focuses on Thalassia hemprichii, one of thedominant seagrass species in the IAA, as a model for assessing historical and contemporary connectivity in theregion. Using a genetic approach, connectivity will be examined at a regionscale (from hundreds to thousands kilometres) and a fine spatial scale (from afew to several hundred kilometres). This study will provide baselineinformation about genetics and connectivity of T. hemprichii populations. This information is important forconservation management of the seagrass into the future.

Funding agency

ECU-IPRS
Collaborative Research Network - CRN
Western Australian Marine ScienceInstitution - WAMSI
Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education - LPDP

Project duration

2013 – 2016

Researchers

Mr Udhi Hernawan, PhD student
Dr Kathryn McMahon
The University of Western Australia, WinthropProfessor Gary Kendrick
The University of Adelaide, Dr Kor-jent vanDijk
ProfessorPaul Lavery

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