Population genetics of the brooding coral Seriatopora hystrix reveals patterns of strong genetic differentiation in the Western Indian Ocean

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

No significant linkage disequilibrium was detected.

“No significant linkage disequilibrium was detected.”

May combine two claims.

Four sample sites, Misali, Vamizi, Pemba and Nosy Be, showed positive FIS values and significant departures from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, indicating heterozygote deficits.

“Four sample sites (Misali, Vamizi, Pemba and Nosy Be) showed positive F IS values and significant departures from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, indicating heterozygote deficits (Table 1).”

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Two loci, Sh3-009 and Sh4.28, were polymorphic at all sample sites, while the other loci were monomorphic at at least one site.

“Two loci (Sh3-009 and Sh4.28) were found to be polymorphic for all sample sites, whereas the other loci were monomorphic for at least one sample site (Appendix S5).”

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No population showed evidence of a recent bottleneck, and all sample sites had a normal L-shaped distribution of allele frequencies.

“None of the populations showed evidence of a recent bottleneck and all sample sites showed normal L-shaped distribution of allele frequencies.”

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DEST values were congruent with FST values, indicating that FST did not underestimate the level and pattern of differentiation.

“D EST was congruent with F ST values (Table 2), indicating that F ST did not underestimate the level and pattern of differentiation.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

The ITS2 marker was successfully sequenced for 77 of 85 S. hystrix samples.

“The ITS2 marker was successfully sequenced for 77 out of 85 samples of S. hystrix.”

May combine two claims.

Private alleles were more frequent in southern sites, with a maximum of seven at Nacala.

“Private alleles were found more frequently in the southern sites, with a maximum of seven in Nacala.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The ten microsatellite markers amplified for all 14 sample sites except locus Sh2-005 in Ramena.

“The ten microsatellite markers amplified for all 14 sample sites except for locus Sh2-005 in sample site Ramena.”

May combine two claims.

Two pairwise comparisons were not significant: Ras Masturah versus Pemba and Ras Masturah versus Vamizi.

“Two comparisons were not significant, Ras Masturah versus Pemba and Ras Masturah versus Vamizi”

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Micro-Checker found possible null alleles at Mikindani for locus Sh3-009 and at Vamizi for locus Sh2-005.

“Further analysis with Micro-Checker found that two sample sites, Mikindani (locus Sh3-009) and Vamizi (locus Sh2-005), possibly had null alleles (Appendix S4).”

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The STRUCTURE patterns were confirmed by comparing different K values and by separate STRUCTURE analyses for the Western Indian Ocean and the African mainland.

“These patterns were confirmed comparing different K values (K = 1-14, Appendix S8) as well as with separate STRUCTURE analyses for the WIO and for the African mainland (data not shown).”

May combine two claims.

DAPC revealed six clusters of S. hystrix, corresponding to the five STRUCTURE clusters plus an additional cluster shared between northern Mozambique and south-west Madagascar.

“The DAPC revealed six clustes (Fig. 2, cluster I-VI) of S. hystrix, corresponding to the five clusters identified by STRUCTURE plus an additional cluster shared between northern Mozambique and south-west Madagascar.”

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On the East African mainland, differentiation was lower in Kenya and northern Tanzania but higher in southern Tanzania and Mozambique, with Nacala highly differentiated from all other sites except adjacent reefs and south-west Madagascar sites.

“At the East African mainland, differentiation was lower in Kenya and northern Tanzania, but higher in southern Tanzania and in Mozambique, with Nacala showing high differentiation compared to all other sites, except to adjacent reefs (Pemba and Vamizi) and sites in south-west Madagascar (Salary and Toliara).”

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Allelic richness ranged from 1.5 to 2.4, observed heterozygosity from 0.166 to 0.367, and unbiased expected heterozygosity from 0.198 to 0.409.

“The allelic richness (A r ) ranged between 1.5 and 2.4, the observed heterozygosity (H O ) between 0.166 and 0.367 and the unbiased expected heterozygosity (uH E ) between 0.198 and 0.409 (Table 1).”

May combine two claims.

Probability of identity values were low for all sites, except Zanzibar where PI was 0.014, and were adequate for population studies.

“PIs were low for all sites (PI < 0.01, except in Zanzibar PI = 0.014) and therefore adequate for population studies (Waits et al. 2001).”

• cites Waits et al. 2001 sourceNot checked yet

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Within the Western Indian Ocean, strong differentiation was observed between the East African mainland and Madagascar, especially for Nosy Be and Ramena versus all other sites, and for Salary and Toliara in south-west Madagascar.

“Within the WIO, a strong differentiation between the East African mainland and sites in Madagascar was observed, especially for Nosy Be (0.283-0.562) and Ramena (0.327-0.610) versus all other sites, as well as for Salary (0.097-0.369) and Toliara (0.097-0.428) in south-west Madagascar.”

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Along the East African Coast, coral reefs show substantial genetic subdivision, with high pairwise differentiation that is lower than among other Western Indian Ocean sites except Nacala.

“Substantial subdivision was also found amongst coral reefs along the EAC: pairwise differentiation was high, although lower than amongst other sites in the WIO (except Nacala, as discussed above).”

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S. hystrix has limited dispersal capacity and high genetic differentiation both at a large scale between the Red Sea and the Western Indian Ocean (>6000 km) and at a smaller scale between sites along the coast of Tanzania and Kenya (Kisite and Misali; <65 km).

“In conclusion, the brooding stony coral S. hystrix shows a limited dispersal capacity and a high differentiation both at a large scale between the Red Sea and the WIO (>6000 km), and at smaller scale for sites along the coast of Tanzania and Kenya (Kisite and Misali; <65 km).”

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Allelic richness was significantly higher at Northern Mozambique Channel sites than at sites further north, both when including mainland and Madagascar sites and for mainland sites alone.

“Allelic richness was significantly higher at the sites in the NMC compared to sites further north, both when including mainland and Madagascar sites and for mainland sites alone.”

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Bayesian analyses indicate a Western Indian Ocean gradient, with one cluster more dominant in the north (Kisite, Misali, Zanzibar) and one or two clusters more dominant in the south (Mafia, Mikindani, Vamizi, Pemba), although Mikindani resembles northern sites in the DAPC analysis.

“Based on the prevalence of clusters in the Bayesian analyses, there is an indication for a gradient in the WIO, with one cluster more dominant in the north (EAC: Kisite, Misali and Zanzibar) and one or two clusters more dominant in the south (NMC: Mafia, Mikindani, Vamizi and Pemba; Fig. 1a, b), although Mikindani shows more resemblance to the northern sites in the DAPC analysis (Fig. 2b).”

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The haploweb analysis revealed two distinct fields for recombination: FFR I contained all Red Sea individuals and FFR II contained all Western Indian Ocean individuals.

“This analysis revealed two distinct FFRs: FFR I comprised all individuals collected in the Red Sea, whereas FFR II comprised all individuals collected in the WIO.”

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There were 30 homozygous and 47 heterozygous individuals, yielding 124 sequences corresponding to 24 haplotypes of 566-572 bp.

“There were 30 homozygous individuals and 47 heterozygous individuals, hence a total of 124 sequences corresponding to 24 haplotypes 566-572 bp long (Fig. 1c).”

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Within FFR II, 20 haplotypes were found in 67 individuals from 12 Western Indian Ocean locations, with the most prevalent haplotype in 40 individuals from 11 locations.

“Within FFR II, 20 haplotypes were found in 67 individuals from 12 locations in the WIO, of which the most prevalent haplotype was found in 40 individuals from 11 different locations.”

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Within the Western Indian Ocean, three groups can be distinguished: (1) north of Madagascar, (2) south-west Madagascar together with Nacala in northern Mozambique, and (3) all other sites along the coast of northern Mozambique, Tanzania, and Kenya.

“Within the WIO, three groups can be distinguished inhabiting (1) the north of Madagascar, (2) the south-west of Madagascar together with one site in northern Mozambique (Nacala) and (3) all other sites along the coast of northern Mozambique, Tanzania and Kenya.”

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This study showed that the Northern Mozambique Channel region is split by contemporary dispersal barriers, probably caused by the short pelagic larval duration of S. hystrix, with northern Madagascar isolated by local cyclonic eddies and Mozambique and Tanzania influenced by southward moving anticyclonic eddies in the channel.

“However, this study also showed that the NMC region is in fact split by contemporary dispersal barriers, probably caused by the short PLD of S. hystrix, with on one side northern Madagascar isolated by local cyclonic eddies and on the other side Mozambique and Tanzania influenced by southward moving anticyclonic eddies in the channel.”

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The observed restricted connectivity patterns can be explained by the short pelagic larval duration of S. hystrix and/or by oceanographic factors such as Mozambique Channel eddies, which retain larvae in northern Madagascar but facilitate dispersal from northern Mozambique to south-west Madagascar.

“These patterns of restricted connectivity could be explained by the short pelagic larval duration of S. hystrix, and/or by oceanographic factors, such as eddies in the Mozambique Channel (causing larval retention in northern Madagascar but facilitating dispersal from northern Mozambique towards south-west Madagascar).”

• AssumptionThe authors state this as an assumption: Brooding corals generally have shorter pelagic larval durations and consequently higher genetic subdivision than broadcast spawning corals.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Statistical significance for all pairwise tests was adjusted for multiple comparisons using a Bonferroni correction.

“Statistical significance for all pairwise tests was adjusted for multiple comparisons using a Bonferroni correction.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Micro-Checker was used to check for microsatellite null alleles and scoring errors.

“Micro-Checker 2.2.3 (van Oosterhout et al. 2004) was used to check for microsatellite null alleles and scoring errors.”

• cites van Oosterhout et al. 2004 sourceNot checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

The two non-significant comparisons can probably be explained by smaller sample sizes at those sites.

“which can probably be explained by smaller sample sizes in these sites.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Because only two sample sites, Salary and Toliara, were analysed in the Southern Mozambique Channel, those results were not included in the discussion.

“However, since only two sample sites (Salary and Toliara) were analysed in SMC, these results are not included in the discussion.”

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S. hystrix is a brooding coral that releases planula larvae year-round in the tropics and has a short pelagic larval duration of 6-12 hours to one week in aquarium experiments.

“S. hystrix is a brooding coral that releases planula larvae year-round in the tropics and has a short PLD ranging from 6-12 h to 1 week in aquarium experiments (Baird 2001;Isomura and Nishihira 2001;Prasetia et al. 2017).”

• cites Baird 2001Not checked yet

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• cites Isomura and Nishihira 2001 sourceNot checked yet

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• cites Prasetia et al. 2017 sourceNot checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Because null alleles were suspected for only two loci, each at a single site, all loci were included in subsequent analyses.

“Null alleles were only suspected for two loci, each for a single site, therefore all loci were included in subsequent data analyses.”

May combine two claims.

The identical multilocus genotypes were most likely caused by colony fragmentation, so only one individual per multilocus genotype was retained in later analyses.

“As these individuals were most likely the result of the fragmentation of a colony, only one individual from each multilocus genotype was kept in ensuing analyses.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Red Sea S. hystrix shows low differentiation over 610 km (FST = 0.089).

“Low differentiation was found in the Red Sea over a distance of 610 km, (F ST = 0.089; Maier et al. 2005)”

• cites Maier et al. 2005 sourceNot checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Red Sea populations of S. hystrix could belong to a different species than Western Indian Ocean populations, which should be the basis for further integrated taxonomy studies.

“Red Sea populations of S. hystrix could belong to a different species than the populations in the WIO, which should form the basis for further integrated taxonomy studies.”

May combine two claims.

Southern Northern Mozambique Channel sites share a similar genetic signature due to larval exchange between northern Mozambique and Mikindani and further transport from Mikindani to Mafia, with high connectivity between Mikindani and Mafia supported by lower pairwise FST values.

“Since the southern sites are part of the NMC region, they present a similar genetic signature caused by an exchange of larvae between northern Mozambique and Mikindani, and further transport of larvae from Mikindani to Mafia, with high genetic connectivity between Mikindani and Mafia supported by lower pairwise F ST values.”

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The same pattern was suggested for A. tenuis and is supported by the strong resemblance in coral species diversity between these sites.

“This pattern was also suggested for A. tenuis (van der Ven et al. 2016) and is supported by the strong resemblance in coral species diversity between these sites (Obura 2012).”

• cites van der Ven et al. 2016 sourceNot checked yet

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• cites Obura 2012 sourceNot checked yet

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In the cited East African coral studies, overall genetic differentiation between sites was much lower than in S. hystrix, and no isolation-by-distance was detected.

“Although the overall level of genetic differentiation between sites in these studies was substantially lower than in the case of S. hystrix and no isolation-by-distance was found.”

• cites Souter et al. 2009Not checked yet

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• cites Souter and Grahn 2008 sourceNot checked yet

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• cites van der Ven et al. 2016 sourceNot checked yet

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S. hystrix has a short pelagic larval duration, leading to high self-recruitment with most larvae settling within 100 m of the mother colony in north-west Australia, though longer dispersal can occur.

“S. hystrix has a short PLD, resulting in high levels of self-recruitment with the majority of larvae settling within 100 m of their mother colony in north-west Australia (Underwood et al. 2007), although longer distance dispersal can occur (van Oppen et al. 2008).”

• cites Underwood et al. 2007 sourceNot checked yet

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• cites van Oppen et al. 2008 sourceNot checked yet

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The lower mean FST in the Red Sea can be attributed to the close proximity of most sample sites and the use of only three microsatellite loci.

“but the lower mean F ST value can be explained by the proximity of most of the sample sites, e.g., ∼0.15 km and the use of only three microsatellite loci.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

The Red Sea is a marine biodiversity hotspot with high endemism, including 5.5% of scleractinian coral species, 10% of crustaceans, 8.1% of echinoderms and 14.1% of fish.

“The Red Sea is a marine biodiversity hotspot with a high percentage of endemic species (5.5% of scleractinian corals species, 10% of crustaceans, 8.1% of echinoderms and 14.1% of fish; DiBattista et al. 2016).”

• cites DiBattista et al. 2016 sourceNot checked yet

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S. hystrix on the Great Barrier Reef and in northern Western Australia shows comparable differentiation (mean FST = 0.20 over about 500 km), including isolation-by-distance (overall FST = 0.198 over about 505 km).

“Comparable levels of differentiation were found for S. hystrix on the Great Barrier Reef and in northern Western Australia (mean F ST = 0.20 ∼500 km, van Oppen et al. 2008), including isolation-by-distance (overall F ST = 0.198 ∼505 km, Underwood et al. 2009).”

• cites van Oppen et al. 2008 sourceNot checked yet

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• cites Underwood et al. 2009 sourceNot checked yet

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Complex oceanographic patterns influence coral reef communities because coral species differ in sensitivity to temperature anomalies: the East African Coast Current along Tanzania and Kenya has more frequent temperature fluctuations, while the South Equatorial Current stabilises temperature in the region.

“These complex oceanographic patterns also influence coral reef communities, because of the differences in sensitivity to temperature anomalies between coral species: the EACC along the coast of Tanzania and Kenya shows more frequent temperature fluctuations, while the SEC has a stabilising influence on the temperature in the region (McClanahan et al. 2011(McClanahan et al. , 2007b(McClanahan et al”

• cites McClanahan et al. 2011 sourceNot checked yet

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• cites McClanahan et al. 2007bNot checked yet

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• cites McClanahan et al. 2014 sourceNot checked yet

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The higher allelic richness in the Northern Mozambique Channel is consistent with the region's higher coral cover and diversity, which can be explained by current patterns (inflow of the South Equatorial Current transporting larvae), high connectivity from mixing in Northern Mozambique Channel eddies, and lower environmental stress than north of the region.

“These results are consistent with the higher coral cover and diversity found in the NMC, which can be explained by current patterns (such as the inflow of the SEC transporting larvae) combined with the high connectivity caused by mixing in the NMC eddies, and lower environmental stress than north of the NMC (McClanahan et al. 2014;Obura 2012).”

• cites McClanahan et al. 2014 sourceNot checked yet

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• cites Obura 2012 sourceNot checked yet

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Corals in the Red Sea experience dispersal barriers such as eddies in the central Red Sea and turbidity in the southern Red Sea.

“In addition to historical barriers, corals in the Red Sea experience dispersal barriers such as eddies in the central Red Sea region as well as turbidity in the southern Red Sea (Roberts et al. 1992).”

• cites Roberts et al. 1992 sourceNot checked yet

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Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Strong isolation of Red Sea populations from the Western Indian Ocean has previously been reported for corals, fishes, arthropods, echinoderms, molluscs and sponges, although some studies found no barriers for some fish species.

“Strong isolation of Red Sea populations from the WIO has been previously reported for corals (Pinzón et al. 2013), fishes (discussed, e.g., in Froukh and Kochzius 2008;DiBattista et al. 2013DiBattista et al. , 2016)), arthropods (e.g., Iacchei et al. 2016), echinoderms (Vogler et al. 2008), molluscs (e.g., Hui et al. 2016) and sponges (Wörheide et al. 2008), although some studies found no”

• cites Pinzón et al. 2013 sourceNot checked yet

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• cites Froukh and Kochzius 2008 sourceNot checked yet

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• cites DiBattista et al. 2013 sourceNot checked yet

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The sampling design did not include intermediate reefs, and the preliminary species result is based on a single marker, ITS2, for which paralogs could not be ruled out.

“However, our sampling design did not include intermediate reefs and this preliminary result is based on a single marker (ITS2), for which the occurrence of paralogs could not be ruled out in this study.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Strong isolation through historical and contemporary barriers could have resulted in speciation and a subsequent interspecies boundary.

“Strong isolation through historical and contemporary barriers could have resulted in a speciation and a subsequent interspecies boundary.”

May combine two claims.

These contemporary dispersal barriers can be explained by the short pelagic larval duration of S. hystrix and by oceanographic conditions, such as Mozambique Channel eddies causing larval retention in northern Madagascar, while the northbound East African Coast Current likely facilitates higher connectivity along the northern East African Coast.

“These patterns of contemporary dispersal barriers can be explained by the short PLD of S. hystrix and by oceanographic conditions, such as eddies in the Mozambique Channel causing larval retention in northern Madagascar, while the prevailing northbound EACC likely facilitates higher connectivity along the northern EAC.”

May combine two claims.

These oceanographic patterns could explain the higher abundance of temperature-sensitive taxa such as acroporids and pocilloporids in the Northern Mozambique Channel, although variable bleaching did occur there.

“This could explain the higher abundance of temperature-sensitive taxa, such as acroporids and pocilloporids in the NMC, although variable levels of bleaching did occur in this region, for instance in Mayotte (Eriksson et al. 2012;Marshall and Baird 2000;McClanahan et al. 2014;Obura 2012;Obura et al. 2018).”

• cites Eriksson et al. 2012Not checked yet

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• cites Marshall and Baird 2000 sourceNot checked yet

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• cites McClanahan et al. 2014 sourceNot checked yet

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Pocilloporids have low tolerance to elevated sea surface temperatures and suffered substantial losses during the 1998 El Niño in the Western Indian Ocean, with up to 100% mortality on some Kenyan reefs.

“Pocilloporids exhibit a low tolerance to elevated sea surface temperatures (Marshall and Baird 2000) and suffered substantial losses during the 1998 El Niño in the WIO (Wilkinson 2002), with up to 100 % mortality on some reefs in Kenya (McClanahan et al. 2001).”

• cites Marshall and Baird 2000 sourceNot checked yet

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• cites Wilkinson 2002Not checked yet

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• cites McClanahan et al. 2001 sourceNot checked yet

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The north-south distinction may be explained by oceanographic conditions: northern sites are under year-round East African Coast Current influence, while southern sites are in the Northern Mozambique Channel influenced by Mozambique Channel eddies, the South Equatorial Current bifurcation, and the transition of the South Equatorial Current into the East African Coast Current.

“This distinction between sites may be explained by different oceanographic conditions.The northern sites are under year-round influence of the EACC, while the southern sites are part of the NMC with influence of the Mozambique Channel eddies, the bifurcation of the SEC in front of the African continent and the transition of the SEC into the EACC (Lutjeharms and Bornman 2010;Schott and McCreary 200”

• cites Lutjeharms and Bornman 2010 sourceNot checked yet

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• cites Schott and McCreary 2001 sourceNot checked yet

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Reefs further south in the Northern Mozambique Channel appear to have avoided conditions that trigger bleaching and still support bleaching-susceptible coral taxa.

“However, reefs further south within the NMC seem to have evaded environmental conditions triggering bleaching events and still support bleaching-susceptible coral taxa (McClanahan et al. 2007a(McClanahan et al. , 2014)).”

• cites McClanahan et al. 2007aNot checked yet

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• cites McClanahan et al. 2014 sourceNot checked yet

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A larval dispersal modelling study partly supports the results, finding strong southward dispersal and transport in Mozambique Channel eddies for larvae released from sites south of Pemba, although it did not include sites south of Nacala.

“These results are also partly supported by a larval dispersal modelling study (Gamoyo et al. 2019), in which strong southward dispersal and subsequent transport in the Mozambique Channel eddies were found for larvae released from sites south of Pemba (Mozambique), although this study did not include sites south of Nacala.”

• cites Gamoyo et al. 2019Not checked yet

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The strong genetic population structure found in this study is congruent with findings for the same species in Australia and Japan, and for other brooding corals with a similarly short pelagic larval duration.

“The strong genetic population structure in this study is congruent with findings for the same species from other biogeographic regions such as Australia (van Oppen et al. 2008;Underwood et al. 2009) and Japan (Nakajima et al. 2017), as well as for other brooding corals with a similarly short PLD.”

• cites van Oppen et al. 2008 sourceNot checked yet

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• cites Underwood et al. 2009 sourceNot checked yet

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• cites Nakajima et al. 2017 sourceNot checked yet

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Molluscs, arthropods, and fishes in the region also show genetic connectivity without a clear genetic break.

“Genetic connectivity without a clear genetic break was also found in molluscs (Ratsimbazafy and Kochzius 2018;Nehemia et al. 2019), arthropods (Rumisha et al. 2017) and fishes (Huyghe and Kochzius 2018).”

• cites Ratsimbazafy and Kochzius 2018 sourceNot checked yet

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• cites Nehemia et al. 2019 sourceNot checked yet

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• cites Rumisha et al. 2017 sourceNot checked yet

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Different dispersal models support isolation of northern Madagascar, showing that coral larvae released from north-west Madagascar are mostly self-recruiting, especially for short-PLD species such as S. hystrix.

“Different dispersal models support this isolation, showing that coral larvae released from north-west Madagascar are mostly selfrecruiting, which is especially true for coral species with a short PLD such as S. hystrix (Crochelet et al. 2016;Gamoyo et al. 2019).”

• cites Crochelet et al. 2016 sourceNot checked yet

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• cites Gamoyo et al. 2019Not checked yet

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No bottleneck was detected, but false negatives cannot be ruled out because of small sample sizes and limited statistical power in this dataset.

“Although no bottleneck was detected, we cannot exclude false negatives caused by small sample sizes and subsequent limited statistical power in this data set (Peery et al. 2012).”

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

The Northern Mozambique Channel is considered a priority region for conservation and management because it has high coral cover and species richness, probably caused by historical high connectivity and low or geographically variable environmental stress.

“The NMC is considered a priority region for conservation and management efforts, as this region is high in coral cover and species richness, probably caused by historical high connectivity and low or geographically variable levels of environmental stress (McClanahan et al. 2007a(McClanahan et al. , 2014;;Obura 2012).”

• cites McClanahan et al. 2007aNot checked yet

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• cites McClanahan et al. 2014 sourceNot checked yet

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• cites Obura 2012 sourceNot checked yet

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Comparing brooding corals with broadcast spawning corals that have longer pelagic larval duration shows the importance of reproductive strategy for connectivity, with substantially lower differentiation in broadcast spawning corals in the same region (e.g., A. tenuis) or other regions (e.g., Acropora digitifera in Japan).

“When comparing brooding corals with broadcast spawning corals with longer PLD, the importance of the reproduction strategy on connectivity is shown, with substantially lower levels of differentiation found in the broadcast spawning coral in the same region, e.g., A. tenuis (van der Ven et al. 2016), or other biogeographic regions, e.g., Acropora digitifera in Japan (Nakajima et al. 2010).”

• cites van der Ven et al. 2016 sourceNot checked yet

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• cites Nakajima et al. 2010 sourceNot checked yet

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A biophysical modelling study by Crochelet et al. (2016) identified several sites in the Northern Mozambique Channel as particularly essential for larval connectivity, and suggested Geyser Bank and Cosmoledo as priority sites for marine protected areas within the Mozambique Channel.

“In a biophysical modelling study, Crochelet et al. (2016) appointed several sites in this region that are particularly essential for the connectivity of larvae, and Geyser Bank and Cosmoledo were suggested as priority sites for MPAs within the Mozambique Channel.”

• cites Crochelet et al. 2016 sourceNot checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

Substantial differences in spatial scales can be expected even within functional and taxonomically similar assemblages such as corals.

“However, substantial differences in spatial scales can be expected, even within functional and taxonomically similar assemblages, such as corals.”