KEYNOTE SPEAKER
ABOUT
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Dr Frank RHEINDT
Department of Biological Sciences National University of Singapore (NUS) Singapore Dr. Rheindt is Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore (NUS). He received his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University Würzburg, Germany, and his Ph.D. in genetics from the University of Melbourne, Australia. Before joining NUS in 2012, Dr. Rheindt did his postdoc in the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology in Harvard University, USA. Dr. Rheindt is an established scholar in the field of ecology and evolutionary biology with almost 200 peer-reviewed publications and over 6500 citations. Dr. Rheindt is also the Vice Chair for Genetics (since 2016) in the Asian Songbird Crisis Specialist Group (one of the Species Survival Commissions of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature – IUCN).
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ABSTRACT
Past, Present, and Future of the Asian Horseshoe Crabs from the Perspective of Evolution
OBJECTIVES
Three of four extant horseshoe crab species in Asia sharing habitats across one of world’s largest and most dynamic shelf area, the Sunda Shelf. By investigating the relationship between the Asian horseshoe crabs and the environment, our study aims to highlight important features for the long-term survivability of these coastal marine flagship species.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
With our comprehensive geographic and genomic sampling regime, for the three Asian horseshoe crab species, we reconstructed demographic histories, mapped population genetic structure, and estimated their vulnerabilities to future environmental changes.
RESULTS
Our study suggests that the current distribution and diversity of the Asian horseshoe crab can be attributed to the periodic submergence of the Sunda Shelf since 400 thousand years ago. Based on the population genetic analyses, we identified boundaries of populations and strongholds for evolutionary potentials of all three species. Moreover, with a novel eco-evolutionary analytical framework, we highlight key habitats that provides refugium conditions and connectivity to offset the advent effects from global warming by the end of the century.
CONCLUSION
Our work produced essential baseline information for the conservation of the Asian horseshoe crabs. Our work also highlights that the Sunda Shelf, as the sole repository for the diversity of the Asian horseshoe crabs, provides the complexity and connectivity for their long-term thrive.
Three of four extant horseshoe crab species in Asia sharing habitats across one of world’s largest and most dynamic shelf area, the Sunda Shelf. By investigating the relationship between the Asian horseshoe crabs and the environment, our study aims to highlight important features for the long-term survivability of these coastal marine flagship species.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
With our comprehensive geographic and genomic sampling regime, for the three Asian horseshoe crab species, we reconstructed demographic histories, mapped population genetic structure, and estimated their vulnerabilities to future environmental changes.
RESULTS
Our study suggests that the current distribution and diversity of the Asian horseshoe crab can be attributed to the periodic submergence of the Sunda Shelf since 400 thousand years ago. Based on the population genetic analyses, we identified boundaries of populations and strongholds for evolutionary potentials of all three species. Moreover, with a novel eco-evolutionary analytical framework, we highlight key habitats that provides refugium conditions and connectivity to offset the advent effects from global warming by the end of the century.
CONCLUSION
Our work produced essential baseline information for the conservation of the Asian horseshoe crabs. Our work also highlights that the Sunda Shelf, as the sole repository for the diversity of the Asian horseshoe crabs, provides the complexity and connectivity for their long-term thrive.
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