Publications by authors named "Sophie B Wilmes"

Knowledge of genetic structure at the finest level is essential for the conservation of genetic resources. Despite no visible barriers limiting gene flow, significant genetic structure has been shown in marine species. The common cockle (Cerastoderma edule) is a bivalve of great commercial and ecological value inhabiting the Northeast Atlantic Ocean.

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Bacterioplankton underpin biogeochemical cycles and an improved understanding of the patterns and drivers of variability in their distribution is needed to determine their wider functioning and importance. Sharp environmental gradients and dispersal barriers associated with ocean fronts are emerging as key determinants of bacterioplankton biodiversity patterns. We examined how the development of the Celtic Sea Front (CF), a tidal mixing front on the Northwest European Shelf affects bacterioplankton communities.

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Article Synopsis
  • Understanding the environmental factors affecting genome divergence in marine species, like the edible cockle, is essential for sustainable fisheries management and conservation efforts.
  • A population genomics study examined over 9,000 SNPs in 536 cockles from 14 locations in the Northeast Atlantic, revealing significant genetic differentiation and environmental influences such as sea temperature and salinity.
  • The analysis identified two main genetic groups and finer subdivisions related to larval dispersal patterns, providing crucial insights for developing conservation strategies and managing cockle populations.
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Population dynamics of marine species that are sessile as adults are driven by oceanographic dispersal of larvae from spawning to nursery grounds. This is mediated by life-history traits such as the timing and frequency of spawning, larval behaviour and duration, and settlement success. Here, we use 1725 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to study the fine-scale spatial genetic structure in the commercially important cockle species and compare it to environmental variables and current-mediated larval dispersal within a modelling framework.

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Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are emerging as forceful agents of ecosystem change and are increasing in frequency, duration, and intensity with climate change. During MHWs, physiological thresholds of native species may be exceeded while the performance of invasive species with warm affinities may be enhanced. As a consequence, MHWs could significantly alter an ecosystem's invasive dynamics, but such interactions are poorly understood.

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