Mangroves are subject to rapid and large-scale habitat changes, which threaten their unique genetic diversity and provision of critically important ecosystem services. Habitat fragmentation reduces connectivity, which can impair dispersal and lead to genetic isolation. However, it is unclear whether fragmentation could impact mangrove genetic isolation, as mangrove propagules appear to be able to disperse long distances. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis of studies testing for a correlation between geographic distance and genetic distance in mangrove plants. From the 22 studies that met the inclusion criteria, we found a significant isolation-by-distance effect; geographic distance was significantly associated with Nei’s genetic distance and FST. Our results show that mangrove propagules may be limited in their capacity to disperse across long distances, which highlights the importance of maintaining close proximity between habitat patches and reducing habitat fragmentation.

中文翻译：

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红树林繁殖体长距离传播的能力有限

红树林会遭受快速和大规模的栖息地变化，这威胁到其独特的遗传多样性和至关重要的生态系统服务的提供。栖息地的破碎化降低了连通性，从而损害扩散并导致基因隔离。然而，目前尚不清楚碎片化是否会影响红树林的遗传隔离，因为红树林繁殖体似乎能够分散很长的距离。在这里，我们对红树林植物地理距离和遗传距离之间的相关性测试进行了荟萃分析。从符合纳入标准的 22 项研究中，我们发现了显着的距离隔离效应；地理距离与 Nei 的遗传距离和 F 显着相关英石。我们的结果表明，红树林繁殖体长距离分散的能力可能有限，这凸显了保持栖息地斑块之间的紧密距离和减少栖息地破碎化的重要性。