Internal Seminar: Maki Thomas, Population Genetics Connectivity of Mangrove Species on Ryukyu Islands

Internal Seminar

Speaker: Maki Thomas, PhD Student, Marine Biophysics Unit (Satoshi Mitarai Unit)

Title: Population Genetics Connectivity of Mangrove Species on Ryukyu Islands

Abstract: 

For coastal species, viable and buoyant period of propagules is one way to estimate their potential dispersal distance. It's been argued that our model species, Rhizophora stylosa (one of the most iconic mangrove plant species in Indo-West Pacific region) has long potential dispersal distance with its viability period of up to a year and being buoyant for maximum of 30 days. However, contradictions lie between their potential and the evidence of population genetic connectivity. Population genetic analysis based on microsatellite markers revealed little genetic connectivity between populations in the Ryukyu Islands. What limits the connectivity? Our hypothesis is that it is highly dependent on geological settings and the wind directions. We also evaluated how much of these genetic connectivity patterns overlap with our surface ocean current drifter data to investigate this question

Free Pizza and soft drinks will be served following the seminar (please bring a cup and plate).