Title: Population Genetics of Sugar Kelp Throughout the Northeastern United States Using Genome-Wide Markers

Abstract

An assessment of genetic diversity of marine populations is critical not only for the understanding and preserving natural biodiversity but also for its commercial potential. As commercial demand rises for marine resources, it is critical to generate baseline information for monitoring wild populations. Furthermore, anthropogenic stressors on the coastal environment, such as warming sea temperatures and overharvesting of wild populations, are leading to the destruction of keystone marine species such as kelps. In this study, we conducted a fine-scale genetic analysis using genome-wide high-density markers on Northwest Atlantic sugar kelp. The population structure for a total of 149 samples from the Gulf of Maine (GOM) and Southern New England (SNE) was investigated using AMOVA, FST, admixture, and PCoA. Genome-wide association analyses were conducted for six morphological traits, and the extended Lewontin and Krakauer (FLK) test was used to detect selection signatures. Our results indicate that the GOM region is more heterogeneous than SNE. These two regions have large genetic difference (between-location FST ranged from 0.21 to 0.32) and were separated by Cape Cod, which is known to be the biogeographic barrier for other taxa. We detected one significant SNP (P = 2.03 × 10^-7) associated with stipe length, and 248more » SNPs with higher-than-neutral differentiation. The findings of this study provide baseline knowledge on sugar kelp population genetics for future monitoring, managing and potentially restoring wild populations, as well as assisting in selective breeding to improve desirable traits for future commercialization opportunities.« less

Authors:

Mao, Xiaowei ^[1]; Augyte, Simona ^[2]; Huang, Mao ^[3]; Hare, Matthew P. ^[4]; Bailey, David ^[5]; Umanzor, Schery ^[2]; Marty-Rivera, Michael ^[2]; Robbins, Kelly R. ^[3]; Yarish, Charles ^[2]; Lindell, Scott ^[6]; Jannink, Jean-Luc ^[7]

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing (China). Inst. of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology. Key Lab. of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins; Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing (China). Center for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment; Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States). School of Integrative Plant Sciences. Section on Plant Breeding and Genetics
2. Univ. of Connecticut, Samford, CT (United States). Dept. of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
3. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States). School of Integrative Plant Sciences. Section on Plant Breeding and Genetics
4. Univ. of Connecticut, Samford, CT (United States). Dept. of Natural Resources
5. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA (United States). Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering
6. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA (United States). Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering
7. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States). School of Integrative Plant Sciences. Section on Plant Breeding and Genetics; US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), Ithaca, NY (United States). Agricultural Research Service

Publication Date:

Fri Aug 21 00:00:00 EDT 2020

Research Org.:

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E)

OSTI Identifier:

1799113

Grant/Contract Number:  

AR0000915

Resource Type:

Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

Frontiers in Marine Science

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 7; Journal ID: ISSN 2296-7745

Publisher:

Frontiers Research Foundation

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; Environmental Sciences & Ecology; Marine & Freshwater Biology; Saccharina latissima; population structure; genome-wide analysis; cultivation; Northeastern United States