Physical connectivity simulations reveal dynamic linkages between coral reefs in the southern Red Sea and the Indian Ocean

Yixin Wang1, Dionysios E Raitsos2, George Krokos3, John Anthony Gittings Sr4, Peng Zhan5 and Ibrahim Hoteit1, (1)King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, (2)Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), Plymouth, United Kingdom, (3)King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Division of Physical Science and Engineering, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, (4)National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Department of Biology, Athens, Greece, (5)Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
Abstract:
The southern Red Sea is genetically isolated from the rest of the basin; yet the reasons responsible for this genetic paradox remain unknown. Connectivity is a vital process for the exchange of individuals and genes among geographically separated populations, and is necessary for maintaining biodiversity and resilience in coral reef ecosystems. Here, using long-term, high-resolution, 3-D backward particle tracking simulations, we investigate the physical connectivity of coral reefs in the southern Red Sea with neighbouring regions. Overall, the simulation results reveal that the southern Red Sea coral reefs are more physically connected with regions in the Indian Ocean (e.g.,the Gulf of Aden) than with the northern part of the basin. The identified connectivity exhibits a distinct monsoon-related seasonality. Though beyond the country boundaries, relatively remote regions of the Indian Ocean may have a substantial impact on the southern Red Sea coral reef regions, and this should be taken into consideration when establishing conservation strategies for these vulnerablebiodiversity hot-spots.