MEPS 477:87-92 (2013)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10218

ABSTRACT: The reef coral Porites rus is uncommon on reefs along the coast of south Moloka‘i, Hawaii, USA, but where found, it covers extensive areas of the reef flat. This pattern suggests a long history of asexual reproduction through fragmentation and dispersal of colonies during large wave events. Genetic comparisons within and between 2 such large isolated populations were made using the classic technique of tissue grafting compared to a more recently developed molecular technique. Both approaches showed that the 2 populations are genetically distinct from each other. All samples taken from one population consisted of a single genotype, while the second population consisted of 2 genotypes that were distinct from the first population. The molecular technique is ultimately a more powerful tool for population studies, but is technically far more complex, expensive and time consuming. The grafting technique has the advantage of simplicity and very low cost, and is suitable for some types of investigations.

KEY WORDS: Population biology · Reef coral · Fragmentation · Clonal structure · Recruitment · Sexual reproduction · Asexual reproduction