A Temporal Genetic Analysis of M. pyrifera Pre and Post Disturbance on Catalina Island
Mentor 1
Felipe Alberto
Location
Union Wisconsin Room
Start Date
5-4-2019 1:30 PM
End Date
5-4-2019 3:30 PM
Description
Available LANDSAT remote sensing data shows reduced surface biomass coverage in southern California for the giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera. Significant disturbances have occurred in the last five years, such as large storm surges in 2014, El Niño 2015-16, invasive Sargassum horneri spread, and sea star wasting disease. This study concerns the consequences for genetic diversity of this putative population decline, due to these significant natural disturbance events, by temporally analyzing four M. pyrifera populations surrounding Catalina island, California. We will be comparing giant kelp allelic richness and genetic differentiation between 2018 and 2008 samples. Within populations, we will be determining if there has been a reduction in genetic diversity and looking for any potential evidence of demographic bottlenecks. Additionally, we will be testing if genetic differentiation is higher due to increased habitat fragmentation. Genomic DNA was extracted from dried M. pyrifera blades collected in January 2018 using standard DNA extraction protocols and genotyped at seven microsatellite loci. Microsatellite lengths will be assayed on a DNA sequencer to score allele sizes before raw data is organized using peak- identification and ordination programs such as R software. These analyses serve to further our understanding of the mechanisms behind genetic differentiation among M. pyrifera populations, especially when considered from an aquaculture breeding for bioenergy production perspective. Thus far, our current findings demonstrate that there has been no change in genetic differentiation or allelic richness of M. pyrifera on Catalina Island in the past ten years despite the multiple disturbance events that have occurred since then.
A Temporal Genetic Analysis of M. pyrifera Pre and Post Disturbance on Catalina Island
Union Wisconsin Room
Available LANDSAT remote sensing data shows reduced surface biomass coverage in southern California for the giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera. Significant disturbances have occurred in the last five years, such as large storm surges in 2014, El Niño 2015-16, invasive Sargassum horneri spread, and sea star wasting disease. This study concerns the consequences for genetic diversity of this putative population decline, due to these significant natural disturbance events, by temporally analyzing four M. pyrifera populations surrounding Catalina island, California. We will be comparing giant kelp allelic richness and genetic differentiation between 2018 and 2008 samples. Within populations, we will be determining if there has been a reduction in genetic diversity and looking for any potential evidence of demographic bottlenecks. Additionally, we will be testing if genetic differentiation is higher due to increased habitat fragmentation. Genomic DNA was extracted from dried M. pyrifera blades collected in January 2018 using standard DNA extraction protocols and genotyped at seven microsatellite loci. Microsatellite lengths will be assayed on a DNA sequencer to score allele sizes before raw data is organized using peak- identification and ordination programs such as R software. These analyses serve to further our understanding of the mechanisms behind genetic differentiation among M. pyrifera populations, especially when considered from an aquaculture breeding for bioenergy production perspective. Thus far, our current findings demonstrate that there has been no change in genetic differentiation or allelic richness of M. pyrifera on Catalina Island in the past ten years despite the multiple disturbance events that have occurred since then.
