DOI: 10.5061/dryad.47dk8
title: Data from: Geographic differences in vertical connectivity in the Caribbean coral Montastraea cavernosa despite high levels of horizontal connectivity at shallow depths

description: The Deep Reef Refugia Hypothesis proposes that deep reefs can act as local
 recruitment sources for shallow reefs following disturbance. To test this
 hypothesis, nine polymorphic DNA microsatellite loci were developed and
 used to assess vertical connectivity in 583 coral colonies of the
 Caribbean depth-generalist coral Montastraea cavernosa. Samples were
 collected from three depth zones (≤10 m, 15-20 m and ≥25 m) at sites in
 Florida Upper Keys, Lower Keys and Dry Tortugas), Bermuda, and the U.S.
 Virgin Islands. Migration rates were estimated to determine the
 probability of coral larval migration from shallow to deep and from deep
 to shallow. Finally, algal symbiont (Symbiodinium spp.) diversity and
 distribution was assessed in a subset of corals to test whether symbiont
 depth zonation might indicate limited vertical connectivity. Overall,
 analyses revealed significant genetic differentiation by depth in Florida,
 but not in Bermuda or the U.S. Virgin Islands, despite high levels of
 horizontal connectivity between these geographic locations at shallow
 depths. Within Florida, greater vertical connectivity was observed in the
 Dry Tortugas compared to the Lower or Upper Keys. However, at all sites,
 and regardless of the extent of vertical connectivity, migration occurred
 asymmetrically, with greater likelihood of migration from shallow to
 intermediate/deep habitats. Finally, most colonies hosted a single
 Symbiodinium type (C3), ruling out symbiont depth zonation of the dominant
 symbiont type as a structuring factor. Together, these findings suggest
 that the potential for shallow reefs to recover from deep-water refugia in
 M. cavernosa is location-specific; varying among and within geographic
 locations likely as a consequence of local hydrology.
description: Montastraea cavernosa
 multi-locus genotypesThis file contains
 multi-locus genotype data from 9 microsatellite loci developed for
 Montastraea cavernosa. Please see the ReadMe file for important
 information.Serrano et al_DRYAD_Mcav
 genotypes.xlsxSymbiodinium
 typingThis file contains the
 Symbiodinium data for a subset of Montastraea cavernosa samples selected
 haphazardly to assess the diversity of symbiont populations and potential
 patterns of depth zonation.Serrano et al_Symbiodinium
 typing.xlsxStructure input
 fileThis files contains all
 unique, M. cavernosa multi-locus genotypes as generated with 9
 microsatellite loci by Serrano et al. 2014 Mol Ecol. The file is in the
 format of a Structure input fileSerrano et al_Structure
 input.txtStructure
 parametersThis files contains the
 parameters for Structure analysis of M. cavernosa multi-locus genotypes by
 Serrano et al. 2014Serrano et al_mainparams
 Structure.txtMigrate input file for
 Upper KeysInput file for M.
 cavernosa migrate analysis for the Upper Keys region.infile.txtMigrate input file for Lower KeysInput file for M. cavernosa migrate analysis for the Lower Keys region.infile.txtMigrate input file for Dry TortugasInput file for M. cavernosa migrate analysis for the Dry Tortugas region.infile.txtMigrate input file for BermudaInput file for M. cavernosa migrate analysis for Bermuda.infile.txtMigrate input file for USVIInput file for M. cavernosa migrate analysis for the US Virgin Islands.infile.txtMigrate parametersParameters file for M. cavernosa migrate analysis.parmfile.txt