High connectivity within restricted distribution range in Pocillopora corals

Research reveals that Pocillopora corals, previously classified as two morphospecies, are actually complexes of cryptic species with highly restricted distributions—some confined to the Indian Ocean and others to the Pacific. Despite these narrow ranges, genetic analysis of 4837 coral colonies across six ecoregions in the Western Indian and Southern Pacific Oceans shows high connectivity within each ocean basin, suggesting a strong barrier limiting gene flow between them. The study used 13 microsatellite markers to assess genetic partitioning and diversity, uncovering variable connectivity patterns among sympatric species. These findings underscore the need for multi-species connectivity models in coral reef management, particularly in the face of ongoing declines.

Oury, N., Gélin, P., & Magalon, H. (2021). High connectivity within restricted distribution range in Pocillopora corals. Journal of Biogeography, 48(7), 1679–1692. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.14104