---
title: "Genomic and Oceanographic Evidence of Connectivity in Western and Central Indian Ocean Reefs"
id: "biorxiv-9-genomic-and-oceanographic-evidence-of-reef-connectivity-across-the-western-and"
canonical_url: "https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/biorxiv-9-genomic-and-oceanographic-evidence-of-reef-connectivity-across-the-western-and"
content_type: "clinical_feed_article"
specialty: "General"
source_name: "bioRxiv (Biomedical Preprints)"
source_url: "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.22.761076v1?rss=1"
published_at: "2026-10-25T12:00:00.000Z"
evidence_level: "Verified Feed"
license: "CC-BY-NC-4.0 / Informational Use"
---
# Genomic and Oceanographic Evidence of Connectivity in Western and Central Indian Ocean Reefs
## Provenance & Clinical Metadata
- **Canonical URL:** https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/biorxiv-9-genomic-and-oceanographic-evidence-of-reef-connectivity-across-the-western-and
- **Specialty:** [General](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/general.md)
- **Primary Source:** bioRxiv (Biomedical Preprints)
- **Source URL:** [Original Journal Publication](https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.22.761076v1?rss=1)
- **Published At:** 2026-10-25T12:00:00.000Z
- **Evidence Rating:** Verified Feed
## Executive GIST (TL;DR)
- Investigators combined genomic data from ultra-conserved elements with particle-tracking oceanographic simulations to assess larval connectivity of a reef-building coral, **Acropora aff. tenuis**, across the western and central Indian Ocean. - The study focused on remote atolls and archipelagos, targeting patterns of population structure, gene flow, and ocean-current influence on dispersal. - Data indicated asymmetric connectivity: the **Chagos Archipelago** showed strong internal gene flow and acted as a regional larval source to the **Inner Seychelles**. - The **Outer Seychelles** behaved primarily as a larval sink according to genomic patterns and simulations; **IIes Glorieuses** was the least connected site in the dataset. - Population structure suggested a partially permeable dispersal barrier between the Inner and Outer Seychelles, although the barrier was not absolute. - The study team observed mismatches between genetic patterns and ocean-driven dispersal simulations, implying that currents alone do not explain connectivity. - Authors noted additional processes that likely shape connectivity: stepping-stone dispersal among atolls, fine-scale oceanographic features not captured by broader simulations, and species-specific life-history traits. - The cohort-level findings point to widespread genomic connectivity across the seascape, which the authors interpret as beneficial for reef recovery potential after bleaching events. - Investigators cautioned that future reef resilience will depend on the frequency and severity of future climate-driven bleaching; the preprint noted no competing interests and provided code/data links in footnotes.
## Clinical Analysis & Structured Key Points
Genomic and oceanographic evidence of reef connectivity across the western and central Indian Ocean | bioRxiv Skip to main content New Results Genomic and oceanographic evidence of reef connectivity across the western and central Indian Ocean View ORCID Profile Catherine E.I. Head , View ORCID Profile Luigi Colin , Phil Hosegood , Michelle L Taylor , View ORCID Profile Maria Belen Arias-Mella , View ORCID Profile April J Burt , View ORCID Profile Anna Koester , View ORCID Profile Margaux Steyaert , View ORCID Profile Tom Bridge , View ORCID Profile Chris Yesson doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.22.761076 Catherine E.I. Head 1 Institute of Zoology, zoological society of London; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for Catherine E.I. Head For correspondence: catherineellenhead{at}gmail.com Luigi Colin 2 University of Konstanz; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for Luigi Colin Phil Hosegood 3 University of Plymouth; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Michelle L Taylor 4 University of Essex; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Maria Belen Arias-Mella 5 Ocean Census; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for Maria Belen Arias-Mella April J Burt 6 Seychelles Island Foundation; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for April J Burt Anna Koester 6 Seychelles Island Foundation; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for Anna Koester Margaux Steyaert 7 Imperial College University; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for Margaux Steyaert Tom Bridge 8 James Cook University; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for Tom Bridge Chris Yesson 9 Institute of Zoology Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for Chris Yesson Abstract Info/History Metrics Supplementary material Data/Code Preview PDF Abstract Connectivity among coral populations, via larval dispersal, is one of the key mechanisms supporting reef recovery after climate-driven bleaching events. This study examines reef connectivity of remote atolls of the understudied central and western Indian Ocean seascape, focusing on a key reef-building species, Acropora aff. tenuis. Using genomic data from ultra-conserved elements alongside particle-tracking simulations, we investigate patterns of population structure and gene flow, and the influence of ocean currents. Results show asymmetrical connectivity: strong gene flow occurs within the Chagos Archipelago and between Chagos and the Inner Seychelles, highlighting their importance as regional larval sources. In contrast, the Outer Seychelles mainly functions as a larval sink, and IIes Glorieuses appears to be the least connected. Whilst population structure suggests a partially permeable dispersal barrier between the Inner and Outer Seychelles. Differences between genetic patterns and simulated ocean-driven dispersal suggest that ocean currents are not the only important driver of connectivity patterns. Additional factors, such as stepping-stone dispersal among atolls, fine-scale oceanographic processes, and species biology likely play important roles. Overall, we find widespread genomic connectivity across this seascape, which has positive implications for reef resilience, though future resilience will depend on frequency and severity of future bleaching events. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. Footnotes https://github.com/catherineellenhead/Coral-connectivity-in-IO.git Funder Information Declared Bertarelli Programme in Marine Science NERC environmental research doctoral training programme , NE/L002612/1 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 October 25, 2026. Download PDF Supplementary Material Data/Code 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 Genomic and oceanographic evidence of reef connectivity across the western and central Indian Ocean 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 Genomic and oceanographic evidence of reef connectivity across the western and central Indian Ocean Catherine E.I. Head , Luigi Colin , Phil Hosegood , Michelle L Taylor , Maria Belen Arias-Mella , April J Burt , Anna Koester , Margaux Steyaert , Tom Bridge , Chris Yesson bioRxiv 2026.10.22.761076; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.22.761076 Share This Article: Copy Citation Tools Genomic and oceanographic evidence of reef connectivity across the western and central Indian Ocean Catherine E.I. Head , Luigi Colin , Phil Hosegood , Michelle L Taylor , Maria Belen Arias-Mella , April J Burt , Anna Koester , Margaux Steyaert , Tom Bridge , Chris Yesson bioRxiv 2026.10.22.761076; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.22.761076 Citation Manager Formats BibTeX Bookends EasyBib EndNote (tagged) EndNote 8 (xml) Medlars Mendeley Papers RefWorks Tagged Ref Manager RIS Zotero Tweet Widget Facebook Like Google Plus One Subject Area Ecology Subject Areas All Articles Animal Behavior and Cognition (8164) Biochemistry (19027) Bioengineering (15171) Bioinformatics (45372) Biophysics (22958) Cancer Biology (20120) Cell Biology (27314) Clinical Trials Developmental Biology (14149) Ecology (21402) Epidemiology (2067) Evolutionary Biology (25816) Genetics (16349) Genomics (23848) Immunology (19033) Microbiology (43209) Molecular Biology (18346) Neuroscience (95152) Paleontology (714) Pathology (3036) Pharmacology and Toxicology (5201) Physiology (8287) Plant Biology (16274) Scientific Communication and Education (2116) Synthetic Biology (4647) Systems Biology (10389) Zoology (2427)
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