DOI: 10.5061/dryad.rr4xgxd5g
title: Population structure of the scleractinian coral, Montastraea cavernosa, in southeast Florida

description: The persistence of scleractinian coral populations on the Florida Reef
 Tract (FRT) is controlled in part by metapopulation dynamics and larval
 dispersal. Nine polymorphic microsatellite loci were analyzed to identify
 contemporary population structure and gene flow as well as historical
 migration rates of Montastraea cavernosa at five sites off Martin, Palm
 Beach, and Broward counties in southeast Florida. The sampled populations
 demonstrated evidence of genetic isolation by distance over a geographic
 range of 85 km. Population genetic structure was divided into two genetic
 clusters, northern and southern, with admixture along a latitudinal
 gradient. Historical migration models indicated likely panmixia throughout
 all sites sampled, identifying a potential reduction in connectivity among
 the sampled populations through time. Though M. cavernosa populations
 demonstrated evidence of historical connectivity, contemporary patterns of
 isolation by distance suggest that effective management will require
 localized actions to maximize the likelihood of sustaining individual
 populations in the northern FRT. Given the results of this study, coupled
 with recent coral mortality events in the region, we recommend regional
 conservation efforts and management initiatives throughout southeast
 Florida within a more comprehensive FRT-wide management network.
description: M. cavernosa genotypes Datasheet containing
 Montastraea cavernosa multi-locus genotypes for 9 microsatellite loci
 (developed by Serrano et al. 2014) assessing population structure across
 sites in the northern Florida Reef Tract (NFRT). See readme for column
 descriptions. Dodge_etal_NFRT_Mcav
 genotypes.xlsx Dodge_etal_NFRT_Mcav
 genotypes_README.txt Structure input file
 Multi-locus genotypes for M. cavernosa from the NFRT, formatted
 for Structure input. Dodge_etal_NFRT_Structure
 input.txt Structure parameter file
 Structure run parameters for use with Structure input
 file. Dodge_etal_NFRT_Structure parameters
 Migrate-n input file Multi-locus genotypes
 for M. cavernosa from the NFRT, formatted for Migrate-n input.
 Dodge_etal_NFRT_Migrate input.txt Migrate-n
 symmetric parameter file Parameter file for Migrate-n
 model symmetric (symmetrical migration across all populations). Designed
 for use with Migrate-n-mpi on a high-performance computing
 cluster. Dodge_etal_NFRT_Migrate parameters
 symmetric.txt Migrate-n south-north parameter
 file Parameter file for Migrate-n model south-north
 (net south-to-north migration). Designed for use with Migrate-n-mpi on a
 high-performance computing cluster.
 Dodge_etal_NFRT_Migrate parameters south-north.txt
 Migrate-n north-south parameter file
 Parameter file for Migrate-n model north-south (net
 north-to-south migration). Designed for use with Migrate-n-mpi on a
 high-performance computing cluster.
 Dodge_etal_NFRT_Migrate parameters north-south.txt
 Migrate-n Pan parameter file Parameter file
 for Migrate-n model Panmixia (single population). Designed for use with
 Migrate-n-mpi on a high-performance computing cluster.
 Studivan and Voss_GOM_Migrate parameters Pan