Unravelling the role of oceanographic connectivity in the distribution of genetic diversity of marine forests at the global scale

Aim

Genetic diversity of marine forests results from complex interactions of eco-evolutionary processes. Among them, oceanographic connectivity driven by dispersal through water transport is hypothesized to play a pivotal role, yet its relative contribution has not been addressed at the global scale. Here, we test how present-day oceanographic connectivity is correlated with the distribution of genetic diversity of marine forests across the ocean.

Location

Global.

Time period

Contemporary.

Major taxa studied

Marine forests of brown macroalgae (order: Fucales, Ishigeales, Laminariales and Tilopteridales).

Methods

Through literature review, we compiled a comprehensive dataset of genetic differentiation, encompassing 699 populations of 30 species. A biophysical model coupled with network analyses estimated multigenerational oceanographic connectivity and centrality across the marine forest global distribution. This approach integrated propagule dispersive capacity and long-distance dispersal events. Linear mixed models tested the relative contribution of site-specific processes, connectivity and centrality in explaining genetic differentiation.

Results

We show that spatiality-dependent eco-evolutionary processes, as described by our models, are prominent drivers of genetic differentiation in marine forests (significant models in 91.43% of the cases with an average R² of 0.50 ± 0.07). Specifically, we reveal that 18.7% of genetic differentiation variance is explicitly induced by predicted contemporary connectivity and centrality. Moreover, we demonstrate that long-distance dispersal is key in connecting populations of species distributed across large water masses and continents.

Main conclusions

Our findings highlight the role of present-day oceanographic connectivity in shaping the extant distribution of genetic diversity of marine forests on a global scale, with significant implications for biogeography and evolution. This understanding can pave the way for future research aimed at guiding conservation efforts, including the designation of well-connected marine protected areas, which is particularly relevant for sessile ecosystems structuring species such as brown macroalgae.