Genetic diversity is crucial for species’ maintenance and persistence, yet is often overlooked in conservation studies. Species diversity is more often reported due to practical constraints, but it is unknown if these measures of diversity are correlated. In marine invertebrates, adults are often sessile or sedentary and populations exchange genes via dispersal of gametes and larvae. Species with a larval period are expected to have more connected populations than those without larval dispersal. We assessed the relationship between measures of species and genetic diversity, and between dispersal ability and connectivity. We compiled data on genetic patterns and life history traits in nine species across five phyla. Sampling sites spanned 600 km in the northwest Mediterranean Sea and focused on a 50 km area near Marseilles, France. Comparative population genetic approaches yielded three main results. (1) Species without larvae showed higher levels of genetic structure than species with free-living larvae but the role of larval type (lecithotrophic or planktotrophic) was negligible. (2) A narrow area around Marseilles, subject to offshore advection, limited genetic connectivity in most species. (3) We identified sites with significant positive contributions to overall genetic diversity across all species, corresponding with areas near low human population densities. In contrast, high levels of human activity corresponded with a negative contribution to overall genetic diversity. Genetic diversity within species was positively and significantly linearly related with local species diversity. Our study suggests that local contribution to overall genetic diversity should be taken into account for future conservation strategies.
Raw_sequences_Plate_1
Raw Illumina reads from the first plate of our sequencing run. A map of the plate is in the file Plate_map_for_Illumina to match individuals and populations with wells on the plates.
Raw_sequences_Plate_2
Raw Illumina reads from the second plate of our sequencing run. A map of the plate is in the file Plate_map_for_Illumina to match individuals and populations with wells on the plates.
Raw_Sequences_Plate_3
Raw Illumina reads from the third plate of our sequencing run. A map of the plate is in the file Plate_map_for_Illumina to match individuals and populations with wells on the plates.
Plate_map_for_Illumina
Description of the amplicons included in our sequencing run, with information about the Plate (1, 2, or 3, corresponding to 1 of the three raw sequencing files), Population, marker, and other information.
Corallium_rubrum_genotypes
Microsatellite genotypes of Corallium rubrum used in analyses.
Crubrum genotypes for Dryad.csv
Paramuricea_clavata_genotypes
Microsatellite genotypes for Paramuricea clavata used in our analyses. This file contains only those genotypes not previously published (see publication for information).
Pclavata genotypes for Dryad.csv
Alignment_Amphipholis_squamata_16S
Arlequin-formatted file of alignment of 16S sequences from Amphipholis squamata used in this publication, with population information.
Alignment_Amphipholis_squamata.arp
Alignment_Echinocardium_cordatum_16S
Arlequin-formatted file of alignment of 16S sequences from Echinocardium cordatum used in this publication, with population information.
Alignment_Echinocardium_cordatum.arp
Alignment_Hemimysis_margalefi_COI
Arlequin-formatted file of alignment of COI sequences from Hemimysis margalefi used in this publication, with population information.
Alignment_Hemimysis_margalefi.arp
Alignment_Myriapora_truncata_COI
Arlequin-formatted file of alignment of COI sequences from Myriapora truncata used in this publication, with population information.
Alignment_Myriapora_truncata.arp
Alignment_Ophioderma_longicauda_COI
Arlequin-formatted file of alignment of COI sequences from Ophioderma longicauda used in this publication, with population information.
Alignment_Paracentrotus_lividus_COI
Arlequin-formatted file of alignment of COI sequences from Paracentrotus lividus used in this publication, with population information.
Alignment_Paracentrotus_lividus.arp
Alignment_Patella_caerulea_COI
Arlequin-formatted file of alignment of COI sequences from Patella caerulea used in this publication, with population information.
Alignment_Patella_caerulea.arp
Alignment_Ophioderma_longicauda_1972
Arlequin-formatted file of alignment of the diploid nuclear locus 1972 from Ophioderma longicauda as used in this publication, with population information.
Alignment_Ophioderma_longicauda_55384
Arlequin-formatted file of alignment of the diploid nuclear locus 55384 from Ophioderma longicauda as used in this publication, with population information.
Alignment_Ophioderma_longicauda_79905
Arlequin-formatted file of alignment of the diploid nuclear locus 79905 from Ophioderma longicauda as used in this publication, with population information.
Alignment_Ophioderma_longicauda_147510
Arlequin-formatted file of alignment of the diploid nuclear locus 147510 from Ophioderma longicauda as used in this publication, with population information.