Integrated Phylogeography and Population Genomics of Coastal Ecosystems

The tropical seascape generally consist of three distinct habitat types: mangrove forests, seagrass meadows and coral reefs. These ecosystems are commonly co-distributed and tightly interconnected. Not only do they share faunal community and biogeographic history, the functioning of one ecosystem directly affects that of another. In recent decades, anthropogenic threats, including climate change, have resulted in rapid degradation of these vulnerable coastal ecosystems. Therefore, an integrated approach is necessary in order to understand the ecology and threats of these ecosystems, as well as to devise scientifically-informed conservation strategies to protect them. This research topic features articles that focus on the phylogeography and population genomics of one or more of these three tropical coastal ecosystems, in order to bring to light their unique conservation challenges and potential solutions. As coastal ecosystems are largely connected hydrologically and ecologically, this Research Topic also includes studies on temperate and subtropical coastal taxa that have implications on the tropical seascape.

Techniques: Epigenomics, eDNA, phylogenomics and population genomics.

Conservation issues: Coastal biological invasion, degradation of coastal ecosystem functions, changes in coastal community assemblage, genetic erosion, response to environmental stressors, definition of marine conservation units.