Líffræðifélag Íslands - biologia.is
Líffræðiráðstefnan 2025
Erindi/veggspjald / Talk/poster E73
Höfundar / Authors: Áki Jarl Láruson (1), Katherine Warren (2), Keely E. Brown (3)
Starfsvettvangur / Affiliations: 1. Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, Fornbúðir 5, Hafnarfjörður, Iceland; 2. National Geographic Pristine Seas, 1145 17th St NW, Washington D.C. 20036, USA; 3. Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 975 N Warson Road, St. Louis, MO 63132, USA
Kynnir / Presenter: Áki Jarl Láruson
The nearshore macroalgae Saccharina latissima (isl. beltisþari, e. sugar kelp) is abundant across the boreal arctic marine region, and has been receiving increased focus around Iceland for aquaculture and ecological engineering potential. While the ecological and economic importance of nearshore macroalgae have become increasingly clear, the amount of genomic and population connectivity insights for this group is exceptionally depauperate. We here report the first population genomic level analysis of S. latissima in Iceland, comparing individuals sampled around and within the largest bay in southwestern Iceland, Faxaflói. We see a clear segregation of outer bay and inner bay genotypes, as well as population structure between Faxaflói and Breiðafjörður. These patterns suggest a dynamic biogeography impacting the population structure of S. latissima across south western Iceland, and highlight the potential for local microenvironments to shape genetic composition across surprisingly small distances.