AUTHOR=Liang Yanshuo , Zhang Shuangshuang , Yan Changxiang , Draisma Stefano G. A. , Kantachumpoo Attachai , Li Zhao , Lin Yude , Zhu Jiang , Zhang Jie , Duan Delin 

TITLE=Influence of Indo-Pacific ocean currents on the distribution and demographic patterns of the brown seaweed Sargassum polycystum in tropical east Asia

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Marine Science

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.895554

DOI=10.3389/fmars.2022.895554

ISSN=2296-7745

ABSTRACT=<p>Long-distance drifting of seaweeds driven by ocean currents is an ideal model for exploring population-level genetic connectivity and phylogeographic structure. In the Indo-Pacific convergence region, we integrated phylogeographic and ocean current data and Lagrangian particle simulations to explore how the ocean currents contributed to the biogeographical patterns and population genetic connectivity of <italic>Sargassum polycystum</italic>. The oceanographic transport and direction of gene flow was in line with contemporary ocean currents. The <italic>S. polycystum</italic> geographical dispersal from glacial refugia homogenized the footprint of genetic divergence. The multidisciplinary intersection provides insights into the evolutionary history and biogeographic conservation of tropical seaweeds in the Indo-Pacific convergence region.</p>