López Márquez, VioletaScherpereel, ColinHellemans, BartMijts, EricHarnet, EmmanuelVolckaert, Filip2025-07-082025-07-082025-06-17López-Márquez, V., Scherpereel, C., Hellemans, B., Mijts, E., Hanert, E. & Volckaert, F. 2025. Connecting Corals: Understanding Coral Genetics for Climate Resilience in Tropical Insular Territories. Turning the Tide Conference.https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14473/1559Turning the TideClimate change is affecting coral reefs dramatically. The reef-building corals in the Caribbean are decimated by the impact of changing water temperatures and extreme weather events. To understand in which way the negative consequences of global change on insular coral resilience, we need to understand the genetic connectivity of these ecosystems. The dispersal patterns of marine organisms are essential in shaping population dynamics. This study investigates the interaction between ocean currents and two reproductive strategies of scleractinian corals, and their combined influence on genetic connectivity among the islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. Coral reproductive modes, specifically brooding versus broadcast spawning, play a critical role in the genetic structuring of populations. We propose that locally brooding corals exhibit stronger genetic structuring than species with broadcast spawning, where larvae experience extended periods in the water column. Using 3D hydrodynamic simulations of Caribbean Current circulation coupled with an individual-based model of biological traits for brooding corals and broadcast spawners, we assess abiotic connectivity patterns. Results indicate that dispersal potential is notably higher for broadcast spawners. Genotyping across two species using microsatellite markers reveals high genetic differentiation in brooding corals and comparatively lower levels among broadcast spawners. Additionally, sporadic dispersal events in brooding corals add to genetic diversity and suggest source-sink dynamics. This analysis of population connectivity and genetic structure in reef-building corals provides critical insights into reef ecosystem resilience, establishing a foundation for informed conservation strategies. Our research supports the long-term sustainability of these essential coral species in a changing marine landscape.enConference presentation