Intracolonial genetic variability in corals

珊瑚礁面临着全球范围的减少。这种下降与珊瑚基因类型的下降相对应，从而导致适应潜力的丧失。尽管人们明显关注珊瑚礁及其巨大的经济价值，但人们对珊瑚礁的种群遗传学知之甚少。珊瑚群体一直被认为是起源于单一定居珊瑚幼虫的遗传实体。最近才发现，珊瑚群体不一定在基因上是同质的，但可能含有不止一种基因。这种克隆内的遗传变异可能具有在快速变化的环境条件下群体生存的潜力。我们正在提出一个项目，将着眼于克隆内多样性的不同方面：例如，(A)不同物种的克隆内变异的频率；(B)导致多基因型个体的机制；(C)传递给下一代(通过生殖)；(D)嵌合体或嵌合体的后果。了解克隆内遗传多样性的模式和过程将使我们能够估计潜在的生态和进化影响。

Coral reefs face a world wide decline. This decline corresponds to a decline in coral genotypes and thus to a loss of the potential of adaptation. Despite the obvious concern for coral reefs and their large economic value not much is known about population genetics in corals. Coral colonies have been regarded as genetic entities derived from a single settling coral larvae. It has just recently been discovered that coral colonies are not necessarily genetically homogeneous but may harbour more than one genotype. This intracolonial genetic variability might hold a potential for colony survival under rapidly changing environmental conditions. We are proposing a project that will look at different aspects of intracolonial diversity: E.g., (a) frequency of intracolonial variation in different species; (b) mechanisms leading to multigenotypic individuals; (c) transfer to the next generation (via reproduction); (d) consequences of mosaicism or chimerism. Understanding the patterns and processes of intracolonial genetic diversity will enable us to estimate the potential ecological and evolutionary effects.