Genomic analysis of population connectivity in the Scottish marine protected areas network to inform nature conservation

Understanding connectivity between populations of protected species and habitats, and between Marine Protected Areas, is crucial to the successful management of the Scottish marine environment. In order to be able to establish the "coherent ecological network" of protected areas envisaged by the Scottish government extensive fundamental research into connectivity between and within populations is urgently needed. The degree of connectivity is a major factor in determining and defining threats to marine biodiversity from pressures such as development, fishing activity, and climate change, and in determining a population's ability to recover from adverse impacts. Genetic information can be used to investigate connectivity between populations as well as intra-population reproductive processes and dynamics. Priority marine features (PMFs) are marine habitats and species which are conservation priorities in Scottish waters. Many PMFs are under threat or in decline, which increases the urgency and importance of understanding connectivity between populations. This project will initially focus on researching connectivity between flame shell (Limaria hians) beds, and then expand to other PMFs as appropriate. The research on flame shell beds will build on currently ongoing research by UHI and SNH to develop markers and assess genetic connectivity for a subset of populations in Scotland, extending analysis to cover the entire Scottish range. Scottish flame shell (Limaria hians) beds are of international importance, and the habitat is considered to be severely declined and threatened in Scottish waters. In Scotland, flame shell beds are a priority marine feature (PMF), a protected feature in several MPAs along the Scottish west coast, and are considered for further protection by fisheries management measures under the PMF review consultation scheduled for the end of 2018.The degree of connectivity between flame shell beds in Scotland is unknown. All this makes an assessment of connectivity between Scottish flame shell beds a high priority to marine nature conservation work.Once procedures for marker development and analysis are established and optimised for flame shells further PMFs will be considered as appropriate to enable a more comprehensive analysis of connectivity within the MPA network.

Aims of this project are to:

Determine broad-scale genetic differentiation and gene flow within and between Scotland's flame shell beds, and other PMFs as appropriate, via genetic screening
Clarify the relationship between populations within MPA sites, and between unprotected populations by identifying source, sink and self-recruiting populations
Compare genetic differentiation between juvenile and adult individuals of L. hians and other PMFs from the same population to identify self-recruitment

The findings from the genetic analysis will be compared and contrasted with outputs and predictions created by mathematical modelling to maximise practical value for nature conservation work.