Seascape genomics of Antarctic deep-sea coral: Groundtruthing larval dispersal models with genetic connectivity data

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A detailed understanding of dispersal and genetic connectivity is critical in determining the processes underpinning population persistence and productivity, speciation, appropriate scales for management, and the potential for recovery from detrimental impacts e.g. climate change and/or fishing. Larval dispersal models (LDMs) integrate mathematical hydrodynamic models with species' biological data to predict population connectivity. They are economical, in terms of time and effort, compared to genetic connectivity research that require extensive sampling and expensive laboratory analyses. For this reason, LDMs are increasingly used in marine environments to investigate connectivity (Ross et al., 2016; 2019); especially in areas challenging to sample, e.g. deep sea. However, very few LDMs are validated with genetic connectivity data. This project compares LDM outputs with ground-truthed genomic connectivity data - a combined approach called "seascape genomics" (Selkoe et al., 2016). By using environmental data alongside genomic data, the drivers of connectivity across this rapidly-changing region will be investigated. The study focuses on deep-sea octocorals from sub-Antarctic UK overseas territories - some are marine protected areas giving this project an applied output with great potential for management impacts.