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Iran kicks off massive Gulf military drills.

Iran kicks off massive Gulf military drills.

The adaptation of tropical coral communities to the world's hottest sea, the Persian/Arabian Gulf (PAG), has recently been associated with ecological selection acting on a group of coral-associated algal symbionts, the Symbiodinium thermophilum group. Previous studies have shown that considerable genetic diversity exists within the group and that group members found within the PAG are significantly differentiated from those found externally, in the Gulf of Oman and wider waters. However, little is known about this genetic diversity. As an initial step towards understanding whether this diversity could represent niche adapted, selectable populations within the S. thermophilum group that may act as natural sources of stress tolerant associations to Indo-Pacific reefs, we investigate whether the diversity is structured between populations and where the location of the internal-external genetic partition lies. We use regions of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) and chloroplastic psbA gene (non-coding region) from >100 S. thermophilum group-harbouring Porites spp. (P. lobata, P. lutea, and P. harrisoni) sampled across steep temperature and salinity gradients to conduct analyses of variance and create maximum parsimony networks to assess genetic structure and (dis)similarity within and between populations of S. thermophilum found within the PAG and externally in the Gulf of Oman. Our analyses resolve a sharp genetic boundary between Symbiodinium populations in the western Strait of Hormuz and identify significant genetic structure between populations with as little as 20 km between them demonstrating that differentiation between populations is likely due to factors other than limited connectivity. Further, we hypothesize that genotypes identified outside of the PAG in the Gulf of Oman existing in near-oceanic salinities, yet thermally challenging waters, putatively represent candidates for stress-tolerant symbionts that could act as natural seed populations of st

Dead zones are a global water pollution challenge - but with sustained effort they can come back to life.

Iranian fishermen out of jobs while regime sells Oman and Persian Gulf fish to China causing environmental crisis.

India warships sent to strategic Gulf waters: navy.

Iran wants stronger maritime capabilities, including an aircraft carrier.

Somali, African troops recapture key port from Shebab.

Lost Civilization May Have Existed Beneath the Persian Gulf.

U.S.-Iran tensions rise over oil route as EU tries to save nuclear deal.

Whale sharks feeding in the western Indian Ocean - in pictures.

U.S. Navy Gains Access to Strategic Omani Seaport.

India China: Eye on China, India expands naval footprint in Indian Ocean.

U.S. Launches Maritime Security Initiative for Strait of Hormuz.

Why This Narrow Strait Next to Iran Is So Critical to the World's Oil Supply.

TRUMP's Bungled Iran Gambit Is Helping China Become a Naval Power With Global Reach

Oil shippers boost security after mysterious attacks in Gulf.

Iran, Russia, China to hold joint naval drills in Indian Ocean soon.