Data from: A seascape genetic analysis of a stress-tolerant coral species along the Western Australian coast

Genetic diversity and connectivity are key factors in determining a
population’s resilience to future disturbance. This is especially relevant
to corals, which are in global decline due to increasing frequency and
strength of thermal anomalies and severe tropical cyclones. While many
studies have investigated genetic diversity and population structure in
corals, they focused on species being removed at the greatest rate from
coral reefs, Acroporids and Pocilloporids, and it is unclear whether the
patterns observed in these species reflects those found in more resilient
species. Here, we use microsatellite markers and two lagrangian models
with differing resolutions, to investigate population structure in a
stress-tolerant coral survivor Cyphastrea microphthalma, Family
Merulinidae, along the north-western Australian coastline. We found
evidence of four genetic clusters with some level of admixture among them.
However, while there was evidence of population structure within the
intensively sampled Pilbara region, the patterns of connectivity differed
to those reported previously. WA populations of C. microphthalma were also
characterised by lower levels of genetic diversity at higher latitudes.
High- and moderate-resolution lagrangian models did not significantly
predict regional-scale genetic connectivity across the Pilbara and
Ningaloo (500 km). Although the high-resolution model explained an order
of magnitude more genetic variation, suggesting model resolution and
resolving coastal processes are important. Over broad spatial scales
(nearly 2000 km), all moderate-resolution model particle release durations
significantly predicted the genetic differentiation, although over water
distance best predicted genetic distance across this spatial scale. This
study improves the understanding of connectivity in this region by
focusing on a stress tolerant species incorporating a spatially more
intensive sampling effort than previous coral studies. It also shows that
further development of lagrangian models is required, such as inclusion of
multi-generational stepwise models and larval behaviour, to improve
predictions of connectivity for this coral species in this region.