Genetic Population Structure and Distribution of the Small Giant Clam Tridacna maxima in Indo‐Pacific Coral Reefs: History Dynamics, Present Status and Future Trends

• Published in: Ecology and evolution Vol. 15; no. 8; pp. e71965 - n/a
• Main Authors: Chi, Haojun, Sha, Zhongli, He, Lin, Hui, Min
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.08.2025; John Wiley and Sons Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: Archipelagoes; Biodiversity; Biogeography; Climate change; Climate prediction; conservation; Coral reefs; coral triangle; Cytochrome-c oxidase; Ecosystems; Endangered & extinct species; Gene flow; Gene sequencing; Genetic analysis; Genetic structure; Geographical distribution; giant clam; Hypotheses; Islands; Mollusks; Ocean temperature; Overexploitation; Pattern analysis; Pleistocene; Population dynamics; Population genetics; Population structure; Populations; Protected areas; Tridacna maxima; Wildlife conservation; Philippines; coral triangle; giant clam; population genetics; conservation; climate change
• ISSN: 2045-7758; 2045-7758
• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.71965

ABSTRACT Various hypotheses have been proposed to explain the origin of the high biodiversity in the Indo‐Malay Archipelago (IMA), such as the center of origin, overlap zone, and accumulation center; yet these theories remain subjects of ongoing debate. The small giant clams, Tridacna maxima, are iconic inhabitants of coral reefs and are widely distributed in the Indo‐West Pacific. However, due to overexploitation and climate change, wild populations of most giant clam species worldwide have been severely impacted and are now endangered. In this study, cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene sequences of 35 T. maxima individuals from two populations in the South China Sea (SCS) were amplified and sequenced. These data were integrated with published COI sequences of T. maxima from other studies. A total of 610 individuals in 34 locations across the Indian Ocean to the Central Pacific were included in the population genetic analysis based on a 417 bp fragment of COI. The genetic differentiation index Φst = 0.856 (p = 0.000) shows a significantly differentiated genetic structure, which can be categorized into six distinct groups from west to east, as previously suggested. The populations in the SCS exhibited strong connectivity with the IMA populations, forming a single group. Gene‐flow analysis revealed a pattern of migration from the Seas of Southeastern Asia (SEA) towards both the eastern and western directions, supporting the center of origin hypothesis for the high biodiversity of IMA. Historical population dynamics analysis indicated that most groups experienced expansion, primarily associated with the late Pleistocene glaciations. Moreover, the Species Distribution Model (SDM) predicted that climate change might lead to a significant reduction in suitable habitats for T. maxima and a slight shift towards higher latitudes. These results are expected to provide insights into the origin of the biodiversity in the IMA and baseline data for the conservation of giant clams. Six distinct groups were identified in T. maxima across the Indo‐Pacific region, which was shaped by the ocean currents and the late Pleistocene glaciations. Gene‐flow analysis supported the center of origin hypothesis for the high biodiversity of the Indo‐Malay Archipelago. The Species Distribution Model predicted that climate change will lead to a significant reduction in suitable habitats for T. maxima.