Figure 1
Global distribution of Rhizophora mucronata and the dominant ocean circulation in the Western Indian Ocean region where 13 populations were sampled. (a) Global distribution of R. mucronata36 (green) and the study region (black rectangle). (b) Schematic representation of the dominant near-surface circulation in the Western Indian Ocean region51. North-East and South-East Madagascar Currents (NEMC, SEMC); Mozambique Current (MC), highly irregular in its occurrence83; Anti-cyclonic eddies (AC); Cyclonic eddies (C); East Africa Coastal Current (EACC); and the Somali Current (SC) and South Equatorial Current (SEC), during the northeast monsoon (November-February, dotted line) and the southwest (June–September) monsoon season41; and the South Equatorial Countercurrent (SECC). Sampled populations of R. mucronata are shown in orange. Population codes are denoted in Table 1. The background map was created with the QGIS 3.10.10 software (www.qgis.org), using detailed (1:10 m) ocean bottom relief, land and island polygons, as well as country administrative boundaries provided by Natural Earth (www.naturalearthdata.com).
