Microsatellite loci for assessing genetic diversity, dispersal and clonality of coral symbionts in 'stress-tolerant' clade D Symbiodinium

Daniel T. Pettay, Todd C. Lajeunesse

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

50 Scopus citations

Abstract

Reef corals harbouring clade D Symbiodinium spp. (endosymbiotic dinoflagellates) appear more tolerant of environmental stress. As sea surface temperatures rise, symbioses involving Symbiodinium D may increase in prevalence. For this reason, eight polymorphic microsatellite loci were developed for clade D Symbiodinium. From the analysis of 132 samples originating from cnidarian hosts in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, 4 to 35 alleles were found at each haploid locus and diversity indices ranged from 0.35 to 0.97. Population genetic analyses of these symbionts should reveal how environmental perturbations affect genetic diversity, geographical distributions, and possible host-range expansions to new coral species.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1022-1025
Number of pages4
JournalMolecular Ecology Resources
Volume9
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2009

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Biotechnology
  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Genetics

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