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Dryad

Data for: Parallel recolonisations generate distinct genomic sectors in kelp following high magnitude earthquake disturbance

Data files

Dec 19, 2021 version files 485.65 MB

Abstract

Large-scale disturbance events have the potential to drastically reshape biodiversity patterns. Notably, newly vacant habitat space cleared by disturbance can be colonised by multiple lineages, which can lead to the evolution of distinct spatial ‘sectors’ of genetic diversity within a species. We test for disturbance-driven sectoring of genetic diversity in intertidal southern bull kelp, Durvillaea antarctica (Chamisso) Hariot following the high-magnitude 1855 Wairarapa earthquake in New Zealand. Specifically, we use genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) to analyse fine-scale population structure across the uplift zone to assess the fit of alternative recolonisaton models. Our analysis reveals that specimens from the uplift zone carry genomic signatures distinct from populations in other regions, consistent with recolonisation after the 1855 earthquake. Crucially, our analysis identifies two parapatric spatial-genomic sectors of D. antarctica at Turakirae Head, which experienced the most dramatic uplift. We infer that bull kelp in the Wellington region survived moderate uplift and recolonised the devastated Turakirae Head coastline through two parallel, eastward recolonisation events. By identifying multiple parapatric genotypic sectors within a recently recolonised coastal region, the current study confirms that competing lineage expansions can generate striking spatial structuring of genetic diversity, even in highly dispersive taxa.