Population connectivity and seascape genomics of Paramuricea biscaya in the northern Gulf of Mexico

We investigate the spatial patterns for genetic variation and metapopulation connectivity of the octocoral Paramuricea biscaya throughout the northern Gulf of Mexico (GoM) in a seascape genomics framework. Paramuricea biscaya is one of the most common and abundant corals on hardgrounds on the lower continental slope (between 1200 and 2500 m) in the GoM (Doughty, Quattrini, & Cordes, 2014). The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DWH) (Fisher et al., 2014; White et al., 2012) directly impacted populations of this species and thus are considered primary targets for restoration (Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees, 2016). We use a combination of population seascape genomic analyses, high-resolution ocean circulation modeling, and larval dispersal simulations to quantify the degree of structuring and connectivity among DWH impacted and non-impacted populations