Causal modelling reveals lower coral genetic diversity in more heterogenous reef environments
Ilha Byrne, Iva Popovic, Rebecca H. Green, Chancey MacDonald, Jake Longenecker, Sam J. Purkis, Mayra L. Núñez-Vallecillo, Andrea Rivera-Sosa, Antonella Rivera, P. Herrero Ortega, Katharine E. Prata, Kevin R. Bairos‐Novak, Scott Bachman, Malin L. Pinsky, Maria Beger, , Cynthia Riginos
The paper uses causal modeling to show that habitat heterogeneity is linked to lower genetic diversity in corals, with species-specific and spatially varying effects.
bioRxiv · Dec 19, 2025 · PreprintEvolutionary Biology