Van Wynsberge S. auteur aut IRD Andréfouët Serge auteur aut IRD Gaertner-Mazouni N. auteur aut IRD Tiavouane J. auteur aut IRD Grulois D. auteur aut IRD Lefevre Jérôme auteur aut IRD Pinsky M. L. auteur aut IRD Fauvelot Cécile auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf reformatted digital access Previous seascape genetics studies have emphasized the role of ocean currents and geographic distances to explain the genetic structure of marine species, but the role of benthic habitat has been more rarely considered. Here, we compared the population genetic structure observed in West Pacific giant clam populations against model simulations that accounted habitat composition and configuration, geographical distance, and oceanic currents. Dispersal determined by geographical distance provided a modelled genetic structure in better agreement with the observations than dispersal by oceanic currents, possibly due to insufficient spatial resolution of available oceanographic and coastal circulation models. Considering both habitat composition and configuration significantly improved the match between simulated and observed genetic structures. This study emphasizes the importance of a reefscape genetics approach to population ecology, evolution and conservation in the sea. specialized PACIFIQUE VANUATU NOUVELLE CALEDONIE 036 020 12 5 e0178239 [23 p.] 2017 1932-6203 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010070178 10.1371/journal.pone.0178239 1932-6203 [F B010070178] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010070178 https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/divers17-06/010070178.pdf IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2017-07-03 2023-07-11 fdi:010070178 fre