@article{fdi:010097110,
  title = {{E}xploring horizontal and vertical genetic structuring in {P}ocillopora populations in {R}eunion {I}sland (southwestern {I}ndian {O}cean) : insight for the '{D}eep {R}eef {R}efuge' hypothesis ?},
  author = {{G}uibert, {J}. and {F}ajeau, {A}. and {H}oarau, {L}udovic and {A}djeroud, {M}ehdi and {P}enin, {L}. and {O}ury, {N}. and {M}agalon, {H}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{P}ressures and threats to shallow-water coral reefs have intensified over the last decades. {T}he '{D}eep {R}eef {R}efuge' {H}ypothesis ({DRRH}) postulates that {M}esophotic {C}oral {E}cosystems ({MCE}s) may be protected from these pressures and threats and could provide larvae to shallower reefs, therefore representing a genetic source for recolonising degraded shallow habitats. {F}ocusing on the coral genus {P}ocillopora in {R}eunion {I}sland (southwestern {I}ndian {O}cean), we aimed to (1) characterize the vertical distribution of each molecularly identified species, (2) determine their population structuring, to seek for evidence of vertical and horizontal connectivity in depth, and (3) test whether the {DRRH} may apply to these coral species in {R}eunion {I}sland. {W}e used 13 microsatellite loci to assess the genetic structure in {P}ocillopora populations sampled along a depth gradient (at 15, 30 and 45 m depth) on three sites around the island. {A}mong the 288 colonies sampled, four species were identified, but only one ({P}. aff. verrucosa) was found in sufficient number at all depths for further analyses. {I}ts populations showed no evidence of genetic structuring among sites and depths, highlighting strong vertical and horizontal connectivity at all depths. {W}e argue that the shallow populations of {P}. aff. verrucosa could benefit from the larvae produced by {MCE}s in {R}eunion {I}sland, therefore implying that {MCE}s can serve as a substantial reproductive refuge for this species. {N}evertheless, complementary studies are needed to confirm these results, particularly focusing on other reef-building species with contrasting life-history traits and regions.},
  keywords = {{S}pecies delimitation ; {H}orizontal and vertical connectivity ; {M}esophotic ; {C}oral {E}cosystems ; '{D}eep {R}eef {R}efuge' {H}ypothesis ; {P}ocillopora ; {R}eunion {I}sland ; {REUNION} ; {OCEAN} {INDIEN}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{C}oral {R}eefs},
  volume = {[{E}arly access]},
  numero = {},
  pages = {[13 p.]},
  ISSN = {0722-4028},
  year = {2026},
  DOI = {10.1007/s00338-026-02876-1},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010097110},
}