Seascape genetics and biophysical connectivity modelling support conservation of the seagrass Zostera marina in the Skagerrak-Kattegat region of the eastern North Sea

Maintaining and enabling evolutionary processes within meta-populations is critical to resistance, resilience and adaptive potential. Knowledge about which populations act as sources or sinks, and the direction of gene flow, can help to focus conservation efforts more effectively and forecast how populations might respond to future anthropogenic and environmental pressures. As a foundation species and habitat provider, Zostera marina (eelgrass) is of critical importance to ecosystem functions including fisheries. Here we estimate connectivity of Z. marina in the Skagerrak-Kattegat region of the North Sea based on genetic and biophysical modelling. Genetic diversity, population structure and migration were analysed at 23 locations using 20 microsatellite loci and a suite of analytical approaches. Oceanographic connectivity was analysed using Lagrangian dispersal simulations based on contemporary and historical distribution data dating back to the late 19th century. Population clusters, b...

维持并激活集合种群（meta-population）内部的演化过程，对于种群的抗逆性、恢复力与适应潜力至关重要。明晰哪些种群充当源种群或汇种群，以及基因流的方向，可助力更精准地开展保护工作，并预测种群对未来人为及环境压力的响应态势。作为基础物种与栖息地提供者，大叶藻（Zostera marina，俗称鳗草）对包括渔业在内的生态系统功能具有关键意义。本研究基于遗传数据与生物物理模型（biophysical modelling），对北海斯卡格拉克-卡特加特海域的大叶藻连通性展开评估。本研究于23个采样点展开分析，借助20个微卫星位点（microsatellite loci）与多套分析方法，对种群的遗传多样性、种群结构及迁移模式进行了解析。同时基于可追溯至19世纪末的当代与历史分布数据，通过拉格朗日扩散模拟（Lagrangian dispersal simulations）对海洋连通性进行了分析。种群聚类、[原文未完结]