CONSERVATION AND POPULATION GENETICS OF REEF CORALS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Abstract

Coral reefs in Southeast Asia constitute some of the world’s most diverse marine areas but are under serious threat from anthropogenic stressors. Many conservation measures have been established to protect coral reefs in this region that typically involve actively restoring lost reef habitats and conserving them under marine protected areas (MPAs). These measures need to be improved upon especially when facing delayed carbon emission cutbacks. By taking into account genetic and genomic information of the foundational species of coral reefs — the stony corals — and incorporating them into the design, planning and implementation of conservation strategies, reef resilience can be enhanced. My PhD employs next-generation sequencing approaches to maximise genetic diversity in coral restoration, identify cryptic lineages in selected coral species, and test population genomic structure and connectivity among selected coral populations in Southeast Asia. Results are then applied to pinpoint possible new protection areas and improve conservation best practices.