Voss lab graduate student Ryan Eckert successfully defended his master’s thesis research in a truly outstanding seminar on Tuesday June 11. Ryan's project was funded primarily through NOAA's Cooperative Institute for Ocean Exploration, Research, and Technology in the Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems project. His research focused on two main objectives: 1) a population genetic analysis to assess fine scale connectivity of Montastraea cavernosa across depth on the Belize Barrier Reef (publication here), and 2) an amplicon sequencing based analysis to determine differences in Symbiodiniaceae communities of M. cavernosa across depth on the Belize Barrier Reef.
Ryan will continue working on his PhD with the Voss Lab next Fall and will be participating on multiple research expeditions this summer.
Congratulations Ryan!
Ryan will continue working on his PhD with the Voss Lab next Fall and will be participating on multiple research expeditions this summer.
Congratulations Ryan!
Thesis Summary:
Coral reefs worldwide are experiencing unprecedented and rapid declines.
However, deeper, mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs; 30–150 m) may act as refuges for coral species, providing larvae to recolonize degraded shallow reefs. This study assessed the genetic connectivity of shallow and mesophotic Montastraea cavernosa populations on the Belize Barrier Reef and the community structure of their endosymbiotic algae (Family Symbiodiniaceae) across a fine-scale depth gradient (10, 16, 25, 35 m). Evaluation of nine polymorphic microsatellite markers demonstrated that relatively shallow (10 and 16 m) M. cavernosa populations were genetically distinct from relatively deep (25 and 35 m) populations. High throughput sequencing of ribosomal coding DNA from Symbiodiniaceae communities of M. cavernosa revealed differences in community structure across depth, with shallow-specialist and depth-generalist community profiles. This research provides important information for the management of distinct deep and adds to the body of research on the understudied MCEs of the Mesoamerican Reef.
Coral reefs worldwide are experiencing unprecedented and rapid declines.
However, deeper, mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs; 30–150 m) may act as refuges for coral species, providing larvae to recolonize degraded shallow reefs. This study assessed the genetic connectivity of shallow and mesophotic Montastraea cavernosa populations on the Belize Barrier Reef and the community structure of their endosymbiotic algae (Family Symbiodiniaceae) across a fine-scale depth gradient (10, 16, 25, 35 m). Evaluation of nine polymorphic microsatellite markers demonstrated that relatively shallow (10 and 16 m) M. cavernosa populations were genetically distinct from relatively deep (25 and 35 m) populations. High throughput sequencing of ribosomal coding DNA from Symbiodiniaceae communities of M. cavernosa revealed differences in community structure across depth, with shallow-specialist and depth-generalist community profiles. This research provides important information for the management of distinct deep and adds to the body of research on the understudied MCEs of the Mesoamerican Reef.
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