Data

Limited genetic signal from potential cloning and selfing within wild populations of coral-eating crown-of-thorns seastars (Acanthaster cf. solaris)

Australian Institute of Marine Science
Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)
Viewed: [[ro.stat.viewed]] Cited: [[ro.stat.cited]] Accessed: [[ro.stat.accessed]]
ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2FANDS&rft_id=https://apps.aims.gov.au/metadata/view/d6b03591-621f-43a9-827e-52c166b3e3a4&rft.title=Limited genetic signal from potential cloning and selfing within wild populations of coral-eating crown-of-thorns seastars (Acanthaster cf. solaris)&rft.identifier=https://apps.aims.gov.au/metadata/view/d6b03591-621f-43a9-827e-52c166b3e3a4&rft.publisher=Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)&rft.description=Population outbreaks of crown-of-thorns seastars (CoTS; Acanthaster spp.) are contributing to extensive coral loss and reef degradation throughout the Indo west-Pacific, but the causes and underlying mechanisms of population maintenance and outbreaks are equivocal. Two recent publications suggest that, in addition to outbreeding sexual reproduction, asexual reproduction through larval fission and selfing may contribute to rapid increases in the local abundance of Acanthaster spp. We re-analysed two large microsatellite datasets (collectively representing 3,714 individuals) that investigated connectivity in the Great Barrier Reef and Pacific region to investigate if potential cloning or selfing can be evidenced in the population genetic structure. Within this dataset we identified only a small number (18, < 0.5%) of putative clones (repeated multi locus genotypes). We argue that several of these are due to sampling and processing errors rather than direct evidence of cloning. Analysis of the population genetic structure (i.e., pairwise genetic differences between individuals, deviations from Hardy-Weinberg-Equilibrium, and linkage disequilibrium) also yielded no genetic evidence for asexual reproduction. There was a tendency towards slight heterozygote deficits, so we cannot refute that selfing does occur, but this is mostly likely attributable to sampling artefacts. Although we cannot exclude that asexual reproduction occurs to some extent in Acanthaster populations, we find no evidence that these processes make a contribution to population structure or directly enhance larval supply. This study was carried out during 2019. Record Point of Truth: Uthicke, Sven; Pratchett, Morgan; Messmer, Vanessa; Harrison, Hugo (2020), Limited evidence of cloning and selfing within wild populations of coral-eating crown-of thorns seastar (Acanthaster cf. solaris), Dryad, Dataset, https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.b5mkkwh93Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlannedStatement: data are microsatellite data in genalex format. Originally published in 2 previous publications, populations are differently grouped (as described in the new population): Yasuda N, Nagai S, Hamaguchi M, Okaji K, Gerard K, Nadaoka K (2009) Gene flow of Acanthaster planci (L.) in relation to ocean currents revealed by microsatellite analysis. Molecular Ecology 18:1574-1590 Harrison H, Pratchett M, Messmer V, Saenz-Agudelo P, Berumen M (2017) Microsatellites reveal genetic homogeneity among outbreak populations of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Diversity 9:16&rft.creator=Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) &rft.date=2025&rft.coverage=westlimit=142.74414068796267; southlimit=-24.36335248920353; eastlimit=154.95117327277083; northlimit=-11.18751728200768&rft.coverage=westlimit=142.74414068796267; southlimit=-24.36335248920353; eastlimit=154.95117327277083; northlimit=-11.18751728200768&rft_rights=Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/&rft_rights=Use Limitation: All AIMS data, products and services are provided as is and AIMS does not warrant their fitness for a particular purpose or non-infringement. While AIMS has made every reasonable effort to ensure high quality of the data, products and services, to the extent permitted by law the data, products and services are provided without any warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied, including without limitation any implied warranties of title, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose or non-infringement. AIMS make no representation or warranty that the data, products and services are accurate, complete, reliable or current. To the extent permitted by law, AIMS exclude all liability to any person arising directly or indirectly from the use of the data, products and services.&rft_rights=Attribution: Format for citation of metadata sourced from Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) in a list of reference is as follows: Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). (2021). Limited genetic signal from potential cloning and selfing within wild populations of coral-eating crown-of-thorns seastars (Acanthaster cf. solaris). https://apps.aims.gov.au/metadata/view/d6b03591-621f-43a9-827e-52c166b3e3a4, accessed[date-of-access].&rft_subject=oceans&rft.type=dataset&rft.language=English Access the data
Cite Saved to MyRDA Save to MyRDA

Licence & Rights:

Open Licence view details
CC-BY

Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/

Use Limitation: All AIMS data, products and services are provided "as is" and AIMS does not warrant their fitness for a particular purpose or non-infringement. While AIMS has made every reasonable effort to ensure high quality of the data, products and services, to the extent permitted by law the data, products and services are provided without any warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied, including without limitation any implied warranties of title, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose or non-infringement. AIMS make no representation or warranty that the data, products and services are accurate, complete, reliable or current. To the extent permitted by law, AIMS exclude all liability to any person arising directly or indirectly from the use of the data, products and services.

Attribution: Format for citation of metadata sourced from Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) in a list of reference is as follows: "Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). (2021). Limited genetic signal from potential cloning and selfing within wild populations of coral-eating crown-of-thorns seastars (Acanthaster cf. solaris). https://apps.aims.gov.au/metadata/view/d6b03591-621f-43a9-827e-52c166b3e3a4, accessed[date-of-access]".

Access:

Other

Brief description

Population outbreaks of crown-of-thorns seastars (CoTS; Acanthaster spp.) are contributing to extensive coral loss and reef degradation throughout the Indo west-Pacific, but the causes and underlying mechanisms of population maintenance and outbreaks are equivocal. Two recent publications suggest that, in addition to outbreeding sexual reproduction, asexual reproduction through larval fission and selfing may contribute to rapid increases in the local abundance of Acanthaster spp. We re-analysed two large microsatellite datasets (collectively representing 3,714 individuals) that investigated connectivity in the Great Barrier Reef and Pacific region to investigate if potential cloning or selfing can be evidenced in the population genetic structure. Within this dataset we identified only a small number (18, < 0.5%) of putative clones (repeated multi locus genotypes). We argue that several of these are due to sampling and processing errors rather than direct evidence of cloning. Analysis of the population genetic structure (i.e., pairwise genetic differences between individuals, deviations from Hardy-Weinberg-Equilibrium, and linkage disequilibrium) also yielded no genetic evidence for asexual reproduction. There was a tendency towards slight heterozygote deficits, so we cannot refute that selfing does occur, but this is mostly likely attributable to sampling artefacts. Although we cannot exclude that asexual reproduction occurs to some extent in Acanthaster populations, we find no evidence that these processes make a contribution to population structure or directly enhance larval supply. This study was carried out during 2019. Record Point of Truth: Uthicke, Sven; Pratchett, Morgan; Messmer, Vanessa; Harrison, Hugo (2020), Limited evidence of cloning and selfing within wild populations of coral-eating crown-of thorns seastar (Acanthaster cf. solaris), Dryad, Dataset, https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.b5mkkwh93

Lineage

Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlanned
Statement: data are microsatellite data in genalex format. Originally published in 2 previous publications, populations are differently grouped (as described in the new population): Yasuda N, Nagai S, Hamaguchi M, Okaji K, Gerard K, Nadaoka K (2009) Gene flow of Acanthaster planci (L.) in relation to ocean currents revealed by microsatellite analysis. Molecular Ecology 18:1574-1590 Harrison H, Pratchett M, Messmer V, Saenz-Agudelo P, Berumen M (2017) Microsatellites reveal genetic homogeneity among outbreak populations of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Diversity 9:16

Notes

Credit
Pratchett, M S. James Cook University (JCU)
Credit
Harrison, H. (JCU and AIMS)
Credit
Messmer, V. (JCU)
Credit
Uthicke, S. Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)

Modified: 23 06 2025

This dataset is part of a larger collection

Click to explore relationships graph
Help

Related People

154.95117,-11.18752 154.95117,-24.36335 142.74414,-24.36335 142.74414,-11.18752 154.95117,-11.18752

148.84765698037,-17.775434885606

text: westlimit=142.74414068796267; southlimit=-24.36335248920353; eastlimit=154.95117327277083; northlimit=-11.18751728200768

Subjects
oceans |

User Contributed Tags    

Login to tag this record with meaningful keywords to make it easier to discover

Other Information
Uthicke, S., Pratchett, M.S., Messmer, V. et al. Limited genetic signal from potential cloning and selfing within wild populations of coral-eating crown-of-thorns seastars (Acanthaster cf. solaris). Coral Reefs 40, 131–138 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-020-02022-5

doi : https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-020-02022-5

Uthicke, Sven; Pratchett, Morgan; Messmer, Vanessa; Harrison, Hugo (2020), Limited evidence of cloning and selfing within wild populations of coral-eating crown-of thorns seastar (Acanthaster cf. solaris), Dryad, Dataset, https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.b5mkkwh93

doi : https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.b5mkkwh93

Identifiers
  • global : d6b03591-621f-43a9-827e-52c166b3e3a4