Long Distance Dispersal and Connectivity in Amphi-Atlantic Corals at Regional and Basin Scales

Research reveals significant barriers to coral gene flow across the Atlantic, with regional differentiation among Caribbean, Brazilian, and West African populations. Extrinsic factors like the Amazon freshwater plume or vast open ocean stretches restrict long-distance dispersal of coral larvae, shaping both evolutionary and ecological dynamics. Within regions, broadcasting species such as Siderastrea siderea and Montastraea cavernosa maintain gene flow over 1,200 km along Brazil's coast, while brooding species like Favia gravida and Siderastrea radians exhibit more limited connectivity. The study used DNA sequence data from two nuclear markers across six coral species to assess connectivity patterns, highlighting the influence of reproduction strategies on dispersal ability.

Nunes, F. L. D., Norris, R. D., & Knowlton, N. (2011). Long Distance Dispersal and Connectivity in Amphi-Atlantic Corals at Regional and Basin Scales. PLoS ONE, 6(7), e22298. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0022298