---
title: "Genomic analyses support managing Acropora cervicornis as a single conservation unit across the Ca"
id: "biorxiv-19-limited-neutral-and-adaptive-genomic-divergence-suggests-acropora-cervicornis"
canonical_url: "https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/biorxiv-19-limited-neutral-and-adaptive-genomic-divergence-suggests-acropora-cervicornis"
content_type: "clinical_feed_article"
specialty: "General"
source_name: "bioRxiv (Biomedical Preprints)"
source_url: "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.26.747420v1?rss=1"
published_at: "2026-08-29T12:00:00.000Z"
evidence_level: "Verified Feed"
license: "CC-BY-NC-4.0 / Informational Use"
---
# Genomic analyses support managing Acropora cervicornis as a single conservation unit across the Ca
## Provenance & Clinical Metadata
- **Canonical URL:** https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/biorxiv-19-limited-neutral-and-adaptive-genomic-divergence-suggests-acropora-cervicornis
- **Specialty:** [General](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/general.md)
- **Primary Source:** bioRxiv (Biomedical Preprints)
- **Source URL:** [Original Journal Publication](https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.26.747420v1?rss=1)
- **Published At:** 2026-08-29T12:00:00.000Z
- **Evidence Rating:** Verified Feed
## Executive GIST (TL;DR)
- The study sequenced and analyzed 46 high-coverage genomes of the staghorn coral **Acropora cervicornis** sampled from 10 locations across the tropical western Atlantic to assess neutral and adaptive structure, diversity, demographic history, inbreeding, and connectivity. - Genome-wide results revealed recurring regional substructure, but overall genetic differentiation among sampled populations was modest rather than deep. - Observed population structure was partly explained by **isolation-by-distance** and by spatial variation in effective rates of migration rather than by long-term divergent lineages. - Subpopulations showed similar levels of genomic diversity and a shared demographic history, with limited signals of local adaptation detected across the sampled range. - Contemporary estimates indicate retained genetic variation and low current inbreeding, but a small contemporary effective population size (Ne), implying increased vulnerability to genetic drift as demographic decline continues. - The authors interpret Caribbean populations as a single **evolutionarily significant unit (ESU)** that contains multiple regional **management units (MUs)**, rather than multiple deeply divergent evolutionary lineages. - The study produced a regional haplotype reference panel to support future genomic monitoring of A. cervicornis. - Given the limited adaptive divergence and remaining variation, the authors recommend urgent, coordinated interventions to preserve and enhance genomic diversity, including risk-managed **assisted gene flow**, coordinated across regional entities. - The evidence underscores that isolated or uncoordinated management that reinforces population structure could increase drift and reduce adaptive potential; coordinated, range-wide strategies are therefore advised. - Funding sources and competing interest statements were reported in the original preprint; authors declared no competing interests.
## Clinical Analysis & Structured Key Points
Limited neutral and adaptive genomic divergence suggests Acropora cervicornis can be managed as a single conservation unit across its range | bioRxiv Skip to main content New Results Limited neutral and adaptive genomic divergence suggests Acropora cervicornis can be managed as a single conservation unit across its range View ORCID Profile Paige J. Duffin , View ORCID Profile Maria Ruggeri , View ORCID Profile Trinity Conn , View ORCID Profile Iliana B. Baums , View ORCID Profile Macarena Blanco-Pimentel , Pol Bosch , Lisa Carne , Nichole Danser , View ORCID Profile Phanor Montoya-Maya , View ORCID Profile Megan Morikawa , View ORCID Profile Erinn M. Muller , View ORCID Profile R. Scott Winters , View ORCID Profile Andrew C. Baker , View ORCID Profile Ross Cunning , View ORCID Profile Craig Dahlgren , View ORCID Profile John E. Parkinson , View ORCID Profile Carly D. Kenkel doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.08.26.747420 Paige J. Duffin 1 Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for Paige J. Duffin For correspondence: pduffin{at}usc.edu Maria Ruggeri 2 Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089; Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for Maria Ruggeri Trinity Conn 3 Conservation Research Department, John G. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, IL, USA; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for Trinity Conn Iliana B. Baums 4 Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for Iliana B. Baums Macarena Blanco-Pimentel 5 Wave of Change, Iberostar Group, Bavaro, Dominican Republic; Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for Macarena Blanco-Pimentel Pol Bosch 6 Reef Renewal Curacao, Z/N Bapor Kibra, Willemstad, Curacao; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Lisa Carne 7 Fragments of Hope, Placencia, Belize, Central America; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Nichole Danser 8 ScubbleBubbles Foundation, Aruba; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Phanor Montoya-Maya 9 Coral Restoration Foundation, 89111 Overseas Hwy, Tavernier, Florida 33070; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for Phanor Montoya-Maya Megan Morikawa 10 Wave of Change, Iberostar Group, Bavaro, Dominican Republic; 11 Salesforce, Virginia, USA; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for Megan Morikawa Erinn M. Muller 11 Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL, USA; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for Erinn M. Muller R. Scott Winters 9 Coral Restoration Foundation, 89111 Overseas Hwy, Tavernier, Florida 33070; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for R. Scott Winters Andrew C. Baker 12 Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33149; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for Andrew C. Baker Ross Cunning 3 Conservation Research Department, John G. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, IL, USA; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for Ross Cunning Craig Dahlgren 13 Perry Institute for Marine Science, Waitsfield VT, USA; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for Craig Dahlgren John E. Parkinson 14 Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620 Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for John E. Parkinson Carly D. Kenkel 1 Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for Carly D. Kenkel Abstract Info/History Metrics Supplementary material Preview PDF Abstract Genomic signatures can provide key insight into the evolutionary history and remaining adaptive potential of threatened populations. As demographic decline erodes both diversity and the processes maintaining it, understanding how remaining variation is distributed becomes increasingly important for conserving species like the staghorn coral, Acropora cervicornis , a foundational but critically endangered Caribbean reef-builder. We analyzed 46 high-coverage A. cervicornis genomes from 10 locations across the tropical western Atlantic to evaluate neutral and adaptive structure, genomic diversity, demographic history, inbreeding, and connectivity, and generated a regional haplotype reference panel for future genomic monitoring. Genome-wide analyses recovered recurring regional substructure, but differentiation was modest and partly explained by isolation-by-distance and spatial variation in effective migration. Subpopulations had similar levels of genomic diversity, shared demographic history, and limited evidence of local adaptation. These patterns support interpreting sampled Caribbean populations as a single evolutionarily significant unit (ESU) containing multiple regional management units (MUs), rather than as deeply divergent evolutionary lineages. Despite substantial retained variation and low current inbreeding, estimated contemporary effective population size was small, suggesting an increased vulnerability to the effects of drift as demographic collapse continues, especially if structure is reinforced by isolated management. Together, our findings emphasize the urgent need for interventions that preserve and enhance genomic diversity, including risk-managed assisted gene flow. Supported by the haplotype reference panel developed here, these strategies will require coordinated efforts across regional entities to conserve and restore A. cervicornis as a jointly managed, single ESU. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. Funder Information Declared NSF , OCE-2023155 , OCE-2023187 , OCE-2023705 Human Frontiers Science Program , RGP0042/2020 Mary G. Jameson Foundation Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation NSF PRFB , PRFB #2508011 Walder Foundation Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, https://ror.org/05e276m57 Paul G. Allen Family Foundation Dr. Scholl Foundation Brunswick Foundation Copyright The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under a CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license . Back to top Previous Next Posted August 29, 2026. Download PDF Supplementary Material Email Thank you for your interest in spreading the word about bioRxiv. NOTE: Your email address is requested solely to identify you as the sender of this article. Your Email * Your Name * Send To * Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas. You are going to email the following Limited neutral and adaptive genomic divergence suggests Acropora cervicornis can be managed as a single conservation unit across its range Message Subject (Your Name) has forwarded a page to you from bioRxiv Message Body (Your Name) thought you would like to see this page from the bioRxiv website. Your Personal Message CAPTCHA This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. Share Limited neutral and adaptive genomic divergence suggests Acropora cervicornis can be managed as a single conservation unit across its range Paige J. Duffin , Maria Ruggeri , Trinity Conn , Iliana B. Baums , Macarena Blanco-Pimentel , Pol Bosch , Lisa Carne , Nichole Danser , Phanor Montoya-Maya , Megan Morikawa , Erinn M. Muller , R. Scott Winters , Andrew C. Baker , Ross Cunning , Craig Dahlgren , John E. Parkinson , Carly D. Kenkel bioRxiv 2026.08.26.747420; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.08.26.747420 Share This Article: Copy Citation Tools Limited neutral and adaptive genomic divergence suggests Acropora cervicornis can be managed as a single conservation unit across its range Paige J. Duffin , Maria Ruggeri , Trinity Conn , Iliana B. Baums , Macarena Blanco-Pimentel , Pol Bosch , Lisa Carne , Nichole Danser , Phanor Montoya-Maya , Megan Morikawa , Erinn M. Muller , R. Scott Winters , Andrew C. Baker , Ross Cunning , Craig Dahlgren , John E. Parkinson , Carly D. 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