Pink sea fan connectivity

Jan 1, 2017

Image credit: Chris Wood

Project Aim

Investigate marine connectivity and population genetics in the pink sea fan.

Description

Samples of the pink sea fan (Eunicella verrucosa) have been collected from populations across the northwest Atlantic and western Mediterranean. Microsatellite markers have previously been developed and used to assess population structure and connectivity in this species (Holland et al. 2017). In this study, we found that populations of pink sea fans from southern Portugal, Britain/France, and northwest Ireland were genetically differentiated, possibly because of reduced connectivity between these areas. Currently, Kirsty Macleod is using mesocosm experiments and genomics to study larval dispersal, population structure and connectivity, and how these processes may be affected by fluctuations in sea temperatures induced by global climate change.