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van der Schoot RJ, Hoeksema BW. Host specificity of coral-associated fauna and its relevance for coral reef biodiversity. Int J Parasitol 2024; 54:65-88. [PMID: 37838302 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
Coral-associated fauna predominantly consists of invertebrates and constitutes an important component of coral reef biodiversity. The symbionts depend on their hosts for food, shelter and substrate. They may act as parasites by feeding on their hosts, by overgowing their polyps, or by excavating their skeletons. Because some of these species partly reside inside their hosts, they may be cryptic and can easily be overlooked in biodiversity surveys. Since no quantitative overview is available about these inter-specific relationships, this present study adresses variation in host ranges and specificity across four large coral-associated taxa and between the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific oceans. These taxa are: coral barnacles (Pyrgomatidae, n = 95), coral gall crabs (Cryptochiridae, n = 54), tubeworms (Serpulidae, n = 31), and date mussels (Lithophaginae, n = 23). A total of 335 host coral species was recorded. An index of host specificity (STD) was calculated per symbiont species, based on distinctness in taxonomic host range levels (species, genus, family, etc.). Mean indices were statistically compared among the four associated taxa and the two oceanic coral reef regions. Barnacles were the most host-specific, tubeworms the least. Indo-Pacific associates were approximately 10 times richer in species and two times more host-specific than their Atlantic counterparts. Coral families varied in the number of associates, with some hosting none. This variation could be linked to host traits (coral growth form, maximum host size) and is most probably also a result of the evolutionary history of the interspecific relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roeland J van der Schoot
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands; Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bert W Hoeksema
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands; Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands.
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2
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Randolph Quek ZB, Jain SS, Richards ZT, Arrigoni R, Benzoni F, Hoeksema BW, Carvajal JI, Wilson NG, Baird AH, Kitahara MV, Seiblitz IGL, Vaga CF, Huang D. A hybrid-capture approach to reconstruct the phylogeny of Scleractinia (Cnidaria: Hexacorallia). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2023:107867. [PMID: 37348770 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
A well-supported evolutionary tree representing most major lineages of scleractinian corals is in sight with the development and application of phylogenomic approaches. Specifically, hybrid-capture techniques are shedding light on the evolution and systematics of corals. Here, we reconstructed a broad phylogeny of Scleractinia to test previous phylogenetic hypotheses inferred from a few molecular markers, in particular, the relationships among major scleractinian families and genera, and to identify clades that require further research. We analysed 449 nuclear loci from 422 corals, comprising 266 species spanning 26 families, combining data across whole genomes, transcriptomes, hybrid capture and low-coverage sequencing to reconstruct the largest phylogenomic tree of scleractinians to date. Due to the large number of loci and data completeness (<38% missing data), node supports were high across shallow and deep nodes with incongruences observed in only a few shallow nodes. The "Robust" and "Complex" clades were recovered unequivocally, and our analyses confirmed that Micrabaciidae Vaughan, 1905 is sister to the "Robust" clade, transforming our understanding of the "Basal" clade. Several families remain polyphyletic in our phylogeny, including Deltocyathiidae Kitahara, Cairns, Stolarski & Miller, 2012, Caryophylliidae Dana, 1846, and Coscinaraeidae Benzoni, Arrigoni, Stefani & Stolarski, 2012, and we hereby formally proposed the family name Pachyseridae Benzoni & Hoeksema to accommodate Pachyseris Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849, which is phylogenetically distinct from Agariciidae Gray, 1847. Results also revealed species misidentifications and inconsistencies within morphologically complex clades, such as Acropora Oken, 1815 and Platygyra Ehrenberg, 1834, underscoring the need for reference skeletal material and topotypes, as well as the importance of detailed taxonomic work. The approach and findings here provide much promise for further stabilising the topology of the scleractinian tree of life and advancing our understanding of coral evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z B Randolph Quek
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore; Yale-NUS College, National University of Singapore, Singapore 138527, Singapore.
| | - Sudhanshi S Jain
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore
| | - Zoe T Richards
- Coral Conservation and Research Group, Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia; Collections and Research, Western Australian Museum, Welshpool, Western Australia 6106, Australia
| | - Roberto Arrigoni
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Genoa Marine Centre, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn-National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology, 16126 Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesca Benzoni
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bert W Hoeksema
- Taxonomy, Systematics and Geodiversity Group, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands; Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jose I Carvajal
- Collections and Research, Western Australian Museum, Welshpool, Western Australia 6106, Australia
| | - Nerida G Wilson
- Collections and Research, Western Australian Museum, Welshpool, Western Australia 6106, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Andrew H Baird
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Marcelo V Kitahara
- Centre for Marine Biology, University of São Paulo, 11612-109 São Sebastião, Brazil; Department of Invertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20560, United States of America
| | - Isabela G L Seiblitz
- Centre for Marine Biology, University of São Paulo, 11612-109 São Sebastião, Brazil; Graduate Program in Zoology, Department of Zoology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-090 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Claudia F Vaga
- Centre for Marine Biology, University of São Paulo, 11612-109 São Sebastião, Brazil; Graduate Program in Zoology, Department of Zoology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-090 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Danwei Huang
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore; Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117377, Singapore; Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119227, Singapore; Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore.
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3
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McWilliam M, Madin JS, Chase TJ, Hoogenboom MO, Bridge TCL. Intraspecific variation reshapes coral assemblages under elevated temperature and acidity. Ecol Lett 2022; 25:2513-2524. [PMID: 36209480 PMCID: PMC9828647 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Insights into assemblages that can persist in extreme environments are still emerging. Ocean warming and acidification select against species with low physiological tolerance (trait-based 'filtering'). However, intraspecific trait variation can promote species adaptation and persistence, with potentially large effects on assemblage structure. By sampling nine coral traits (four morphological, four tissue and one skeletal) along an offshore-inshore gradient in temperature and pH, we show that distantly related coral species undergo consistent intraspecific changes as they cross into warm, acidic environments. Intraspecific variation and species turnover each favoured colonies with greater tissue biomass, higher symbiont densities and reduced skeletal investments, indicating strong filtering on colony physiology within and across species. Physiological tissue traits were highly variable within species and were independent of morphology, enabling morphologically diverse species to cross into sites of elevated temperature and acidity. Widespread intraspecific change can therefore counter the loss of biodiversity and morphological structure across a steep environmental gradient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mike McWilliam
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine BiologyUniversity of Hawaiʻi at MānoaKāne'oheHawaiiUSA,Centre for Biological Diversity, Scottish Oceans InstituteUniversity of St AndrewsSt AndrewsUK
| | - Joshua S. Madin
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine BiologyUniversity of Hawaiʻi at MānoaKāne'oheHawaiiUSA
| | - Tory J. Chase
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia,College of Science and EngineeringJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia,Department of Geography and the EnvironmentVillanova UniversityVillanovaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Mia O. Hoogenboom
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia,College of Science and EngineeringJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
| | - Tom C. L. Bridge
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia,Biodiversity and Geosciences ProgramMuseum of Tropical Queensland, Queensland MuseumTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
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4
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Ng LWK, Chisholm C, Carrasco LR, Darling ES, Guilhaumon F, Mooers AØ, Tucker CM, Winter M, Huang D. Prioritizing phylogenetic diversity to protect functional diversity of reef corals. DIVERS DISTRIB 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Linus W. K. Ng
- Department of Biological Sciences National University of Singapore Singapore Singapore
| | | | - Luis Roman Carrasco
- Department of Biological Sciences National University of Singapore Singapore Singapore
- Centre for Nature‐based Climate Solutions National University of Singapore Singapore Singapore
| | | | | | - Arne Ø. Mooers
- Department of Biological Sciences Simon Fraser University Burnaby Canada
| | - Caroline M. Tucker
- Environment, Ecology and Energy Program University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
| | - Marten Winter
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research Leipzig Germany
| | - Danwei Huang
- Department of Biological Sciences National University of Singapore Singapore Singapore
- Centre for Nature‐based Climate Solutions National University of Singapore Singapore Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum and Tropical Marine Science Institute National University of Singapore Singapore Singapore
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Gault JA, Bentlage B, Huang D, Kerr AM. Lineage-specific variation in the evolutionary stability of coral photosymbiosis. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabh4243. [PMID: 34550731 PMCID: PMC8457658 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abh4243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
More than half of reef-building corals (Scleractinia) participate in a nutritional symbiosis, known as photosymbiosis, with photosynthetic dinoflagellates that ranges from obligate to facultative dependence. Fitting hidden-rates models allowing among-lineage variation in the rate of trait evolution to supertree and molecular phylogenies of Scleractinia, we reconstruct the history of photosymbiosis within Scleractinia and characterize its evolutionary stability. We find that most lineages of scleractinians are extraordinarily stable for the trait, evincing no instances of loss, but that in some clades photosymbiosis is more labile, thus providing a framework for comparative studies to further our mechanistic understanding of the factors that shape the evolutionary fates of scleractinian photosymbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan A. Gault
- Marine Laboratory, University of Guam, 303 University Dr., Mangilao, GU 96913, USA
| | - Bastian Bentlage
- Marine Laboratory, University of Guam, 303 University Dr., Mangilao, GU 96913, USA
| | - Danwei Huang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tropical Marine Science Institute, and Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore
| | - Alexander M. Kerr
- Marine Laboratory, University of Guam, 303 University Dr., Mangilao, GU 96913, USA
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6
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Yeung YH, Xie JY, Kwok CK, Kei K, Ang P, Chan LL, Dellisanti W, Cheang CC, Chow WK, Qiu JW. Hong Kong's subtropical scleractinian coral communities: Baseline, environmental drivers and management implications. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 167:112289. [PMID: 33773418 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We surveyed 41 sites to provide an updated baseline of Hong Kong coral communities. Five community types were identified, among them the most common one inhabited oceanic waters and dominated by both massive and upward-plating corals. The 41 sites had 2.1-79% coral cover; among them 21 in the eastern waters had >40% coral cover. Corals in several sites showed signs of external bioerosion or bleaching-induced damage. Sites in the southern waters had low coral cover. Both coral cover and generic richness correlated negatively with several water quality parameters including total inorganic nitrogen concentration and turbidity, indicating the development of Hong Kong's coral communities is constrained by water quality parameters. Management actions are proposed to reduce bioerosion, and to monitor sites affected by bleaching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yip Hung Yeung
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China; HKBU Institute of Research and Continuing Education, Shenzhen, China
| | - James Y Xie
- Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chun Kit Kwok
- Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong, China
| | - Keith Kei
- College of International Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Put Ang
- Institute of Space and Earth Information Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Leo Lai Chan
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Walter Dellisanti
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chi Chiu Cheang
- Department of Science and Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wing Kuen Chow
- Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jian-Wen Qiu
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China; HKBU Institute of Research and Continuing Education, Shenzhen, China.
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7
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A Phylogeny-Informed Analysis of the Global Coral-Symbiodiniaceae Interaction Network Reveals that Traits Correlated with Thermal Bleaching Are Specific to Symbiont Transmission Mode. mSystems 2021; 6:6/3/e00266-21. [PMID: 33947806 PMCID: PMC8269218 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00266-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The complex network of associations between corals and their dinoflagellates (family Symbiodiniaceae) are the basis of coral reef ecosystems but are sensitive to increasing global temperatures. Coral-symbiont interactions are restricted by ecological and evolutionary determinants that constrain partner choice and influence holobiont response to environmental stress; however, little is known about how these processes shape thermal resilience of the holobiont. Here, we built a network of global coral-Symbiodiniaceae associations, mapped species traits (e.g., symbiont transmission mode and biogeography) and phylogenetic relationships of both partners onto the network, and assigned thermotolerance to both host and symbiont nodes. Using network analysis and phylogenetic comparative methods, we determined the contribution of species traits to thermal resilience of the holobiont, while accounting for evolutionary patterns among species. We found that the network shows nonrandom interactions among species, which are shaped by evolutionary history, symbiont transmission mode (horizontally transmitted [HT] or vertically transmitted [VT] corals) and biogeography. Coral phylogeny, but not Symbiodiniaceae phylogeny, symbiont transmission mode, or biogeography, was a good predictor of thermal resilience. Closely related corals have similar Symbiodiniaceae interaction patterns and bleaching susceptibilities. Nevertheless, the association patterns that explain increased host thermal resilience are not generalizable across the entire network but are instead unique to HT and VT corals. Under nonstress conditions, thermally resilient VT coral species associate with thermotolerant phylotypes and limit their number of unique symbionts and overall symbiont thermotolerance diversity, while thermally resilient HT coral species associate with a few host-specific symbiont phylotypes. IMPORTANCE Recent advances have revealed a complex network of interactions between coral and Symbiodiniaceae. Specifically, nonrandom association patterns, which are determined in part by restrictions imposed by symbiont transmission mode, increase the sensitivity of the overall network to thermal stress. However, little is known about the extent to which coral-Symbiodiniaceae network resistance to thermal stress is shaped by host and symbiont species phylogenetic relationships and host and symbiont species traits, such as symbiont transmission mode. We built a frequency-weighted global coral-Symbiodiniaceae network and used network analysis and phylogenetic comparative methods to show that evolutionary relatedness, but not transmission mode, predicts thermal resilience of the coral-Symbiodiniaceae holobiont. Consequently, thermal stress events could result in nonrandom pruning of susceptible lineages and loss of taxonomic diversity with catastrophic effects on community resilience to future events. Our results show that inclusion of the contribution of evolutionary and ecological processes will further our understanding of the fate of coral assemblages under climate change.
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8
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Diversity of Seahorse Species (Hippocampus spp.) in the International Aquarium Trade. DIVERSITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/d13050187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Seahorses (Hippocampus spp.) are threatened as a result of habitat degradation and overfishing. They have commercial value as traditional medicine, curio objects, and pets in the aquarium industry. There are 48 valid species, 27 of which are represented in the international aquarium trade. Most species in the aquarium industry are relatively large and were described early in the history of seahorse taxonomy. In 2002, seahorses became the first marine fishes for which the international trade became regulated by CITES (Convention for the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), with implementation in 2004. Since then, aquaculture has been developed to improve the sustainability of the seahorse trade. This review provides analyses of the roles of wild-caught and cultured individuals in the international aquarium trade of various Hippocampus species for the period 1997–2018. For all species, trade numbers declined after 2011. The proportion of cultured seahorses in the aquarium trade increased rapidly after their listing in CITES, although the industry is still struggling to produce large numbers of young in a cost-effective way, and its economic viability is technically challenging in terms of diet and disease. Whether seahorse aquaculture can benefit wild populations will largely depend on its capacity to provide an alternative livelihood for subsistence fishers in the source countries. For most species, CITES trade records of live animals in the aquarium industry started a few years earlier than those of dead bodies in the traditional medicine trade, despite the latter being 15 times higher in number. The use of DNA analysis in the species identification of seahorses has predominantly been applied to animals in the traditional medicine market, but not to the aquarium trade. Genetic tools have already been used in the description of new species and will also help to discover new species and in various other kinds of applications.
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Vega Thurber R, Mydlarz LD, Brandt M, Harvell D, Weil E, Raymundo L, Willis BL, Langevin S, Tracy AM, Littman R, Kemp KM, Dawkins P, Prager KC, Garren M, Lamb J. Deciphering Coral Disease Dynamics: Integrating Host, Microbiome, and the Changing Environment. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.575927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Diseases of tropical reef organisms is an intensive area of study, but despite significant advances in methodology and the global knowledge base, identifying the proximate causes of disease outbreaks remains difficult. The dynamics of infectious wildlife diseases are known to be influenced by shifting interactions among the host, pathogen, and other members of the microbiome, and a collective body of work clearly demonstrates that this is also the case for the main foundation species on reefs, corals. Yet, among wildlife, outbreaks of coral diseases stand out as being driven largely by a changing environment. These outbreaks contributed not only to significant losses of coral species but also to whole ecosystem regime shifts. Here we suggest that to better decipher the disease dynamics of corals, we must integrate more holistic and modern paradigms that consider multiple and variable interactions among the three major players in epizootics: the host, its associated microbiome, and the environment. In this perspective, we discuss how expanding the pathogen component of the classic host-pathogen-environment disease triad to incorporate shifts in the microbiome leading to dysbiosis provides a better model for understanding coral disease dynamics. We outline and discuss issues arising when evaluating each component of this trio and make suggestions for bridging gaps between them. We further suggest that to best tackle these challenges, researchers must adjust standard paradigms, like the classic one pathogen-one disease model, that, to date, have been ineffectual at uncovering many of the emergent properties of coral reef disease dynamics. Lastly, we make recommendations for ways forward in the fields of marine disease ecology and the future of coral reef conservation and restoration given these observations.
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10
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Seiblitz IGL, Capel KCC, Stolarski J, Quek ZBR, Huang D, Kitahara MV. The earliest diverging extant scleractinian corals recovered by mitochondrial genomes. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20714. [PMID: 33244171 PMCID: PMC7693180 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77763-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Evolutionary reconstructions of scleractinian corals have a discrepant proportion of zooxanthellate reef-building species in relation to their azooxanthellate deep-sea counterparts. In particular, the earliest diverging "Basal" lineage remains poorly studied compared to "Robust" and "Complex" corals. The lack of data from corals other than reef-building species impairs a broader understanding of scleractinian evolution. Here, based on complete mitogenomes, the early onset of azooxanthellate corals is explored focusing on one of the most morphologically distinct families, Micrabaciidae. Sequenced on both Illumina and Sanger platforms, mitogenomes of four micrabaciids range from 19,048 to 19,542 bp and have gene content and order similar to the majority of scleractinians. Phylogenies containing all mitochondrial genes confirm the monophyly of Micrabaciidae as a sister group to the rest of Scleractinia. This topology not only corroborates the hypothesis of a solitary and azooxanthellate ancestor for the order, but also agrees with the unique skeletal microstructure previously found in the family. Moreover, the early-diverging position of micrabaciids followed by gardineriids reinforces the previously observed macromorphological similarities between micrabaciids and Corallimorpharia as well as its microstructural differences with Gardineriidae. The fact that both families share features with family Kilbuchophylliidae ultimately points towards a Middle Ordovician origin for Scleractinia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabela G L Seiblitz
- Departamento de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Centro de Biologia Marinha, Universidade de São Paulo, São Sebastião, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Kátia C C Capel
- Centro de Biologia Marinha, Universidade de São Paulo, São Sebastião, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Danwei Huang
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Marcelo V Kitahara
- Departamento de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, São Paulo, Brazil
- Centro de Biologia Marinha, Universidade de São Paulo, São Sebastião, São Paulo, Brazil
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11
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The scleractinian Agaricia undata as a new host for the coral-gall crab Opecarcinus hypostegus at Bonaire, southern Caribbean. Symbiosis 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s13199-020-00706-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe Caribbean scleractinian reef coral Agaricia undata (Agariciidae) is recorded for the first time as a host of the coral-gall crab Opecarcinus hypostegus (Cryptochiridae). The identity of the crab was confirmed with the help of DNA barcoding. The association has been documented with photographs taken in situ at 25 m depth and in the laboratory. The predominantly mesophotic depth range of the host species suggests this association to be present also at greater depths. With this record, all seven Agaricia species are now listed as gall-crab hosts, together with the agariciid Helioseris cucullata. Within the phylogeny of Agariciidae, Helioseris is not closely related to Agaricia. Therefore, the association between Caribbean agariciids and their gall-crab symbionts may either have originated early in their shared evolutionary history or later as a result of host range expansion. New information on coral-associated fauna, such as what is presented here, leads to a better insight on the diversity, evolution, and ecology of coral reef biota, particularly in the Caribbean, where cryptochirids have rarely been studied.
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12
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Rasmussen L, Barnes C, Mak SST, Kjartansdóttir KR, Hansen TA, Doan-Nhu H, Nguyen-Ngoc L, Guldberg Frøslev T, Hellström M, Hansen AJ. Increased Bacterial Richness Associated With Lesions Within the Porites spp. of Vietnam. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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13
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Swain TD, Lax S, Backman V, Marcelino LA. Uncovering the role of Symbiodiniaceae assemblage composition and abundance in coral bleaching response by minimizing sampling and evolutionary biases. BMC Microbiol 2020; 20:124. [PMID: 32429833 PMCID: PMC7236918 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-020-01765-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biodiversity and productivity of coral-reef ecosystems depend upon reef-building corals and their associations with endosymbiotic Symbiodiniaceae, which offer diverse functional capabilities to their hosts. The number of unique symbiotic partners (richness) and relative abundances (evenness) have been hypothesized to affect host response to climate change induced thermal stress. Symbiodiniaceae assemblages with many unique phylotypes may provide greater physiological flexibility or form less stable symbioses; assemblages with low abundance phylotypes may allow corals to retain thermotolerant symbionts or represent associations with less-suitable symbionts. RESULTS Here we demonstrate that true richness of Symbiodiniaceae phylotype assemblages is generally not discoverable from direct enumeration of unique phylotypes in association records and that cross host-species comparisons are biased by sampling and evolutionary patterns among species. These biases can be minimized through rarefaction of richness (rarefied-richness) and evenness (Probability of Interspecific Encounter, PIE), and analyses that account for phylogenetic patterns. These standardized metrics were calculated for individual Symbiodiniaceae assemblages composed of 377 unique ITS2 phylotypes associated with 123 coral species. Rarefied-richness minimized correlations with sampling effort, while maintaining important underlying characteristics across host bathymetry and geography. Phylogenetic comparative methods reveal significant increases in coral bleaching and mortality associated with increasing Symbiodiniaceae assemblage richness and evenness at the level of host species. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that the potential flexibility afforded by assemblages characterized by many phylotypes present at similar relative abundances does not result in decreased bleaching risk and point to the need to characterize the overall functional and genetic diversity of Symbiodiniaceae assemblages to quantify their effect on host fitness under climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy D Swain
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
- Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, 60605, USA
- Department of Marine and Environmental Science, Nova Southeastern University, Dania Beach, FL, 33004, USA
| | - Simon Lax
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
- Physics of Living Systems, Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Vadim Backman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Luisa A Marcelino
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.
- Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, 60605, USA.
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14
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Quek RZB, Jain SS, Neo ML, Rouse GW, Huang D. Transcriptome-based target-enrichment baits for stony corals (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Scleractinia). Mol Ecol Resour 2020; 20:807-818. [PMID: 32077619 PMCID: PMC7468246 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Revised: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Despite the ecological and economic significance of stony corals (Scleractinia), a robust understanding of their phylogeny remains elusive due to patchy taxonomic and genetic sampling, as well as the limited availability of informative markers. To increase the number of genetic loci available for phylogenomic analyses in Scleractinia, we designed 15,919 DNA enrichment baits targeting 605 orthogroups (mean 565 ± SD 366 bp) over 1,139 exon regions. A further 236 and 62 barcoding baits were designed for COI and histone H3 genes respectively for quality and contamination checks. Hybrid capture using these baits was performed on 18 coral species spanning the presently understood scleractinian phylogeny, with two corallimorpharians as outgroup. On average, 74% of all loci targeted were successfully captured for each species. Barcoding baits were matched unambiguously to their respective samples and revealed low levels of cross-contamination in accordance with expectation. We put the data through a series of stringent filtering steps to ensure only scleractinian and phylogenetically informative loci were retained, and the final probe set comprised 13,479 baits, targeting 452 loci (mean 531 ± SD 307 bp) across 865 exon regions. Maximum likelihood, Bayesian and species tree analyses recovered maximally supported, topologically congruent trees consistent with previous phylogenomic reconstructions. The phylogenomic method presented here allows for consistent capture of orthologous loci among divergent coral taxa, facilitating the pooling of data from different studies and increasing the phylogenetic sampling of scleractinians in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randolph Z. B. Quek
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Sudhanshi S. Jain
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Mei Lin Neo
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
- Tropical Marine Science InstituteNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Greg W. Rouse
- Scripps Institution of OceanographyUniversity of California San DiegoSan DiegoCAUSA
| | - Danwei Huang
- Department of Biological SciencesNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
- Tropical Marine Science InstituteNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
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15
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Sheppard C, Sheppard A, Fenner D. Coral mass mortalities in the Chagos Archipelago over 40 years: Regional species and assemblage extinctions and indications of positive feedbacks. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 154:111075. [PMID: 32319906 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The global decline of reef corals has been driven largely by several marine heatwaves. This has greatly reduced coral cover but has reduced coral diversity also. While there is a lack of data in most locations to detect coral species losses, reefs of the Chagos Archipelago, central Indian Ocean, have long term monitoring data extending back to the late 1970s. Severe declines in cover have occurred since the 1970s, with regional extinctions of some species and key species assemblages. There is a severe decline in coral settlement, along with a substantial loss of habitat quality which has reduced the habitat available for settlement. This is a clear precursor to positive feedback. Regional species extinctions here occur mainly when total coral cover is <10% of pre-warming levels. Climate models predict more frequent and more severe marine heatwaves, and even if this ecosystem recovers it will contain fewer species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Sheppard
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, CV4 7AL, UK; School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, LL57 2DG, UK.
| | - Anne Sheppard
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, CV4 7AL, UK; School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, LL57 2DG, UK
| | - Douglas Fenner
- NOAA Contractor and Consultant, Pago Pago, AS 96799, USA
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16
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Kusumoto B, Costello MJ, Kubota Y, Shiono T, Wei C, Yasuhara M, Chao A. Global distribution of coral diversity: Biodiversity knowledge gradients related to spatial resolution. Ecol Res 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1440-1703.12096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Buntarou Kusumoto
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Richmond UK
- Faculty of Science University of the Ryukyus Okinawa Japan
- Okinawa Prefecture Environment Science Center Okinawa Japan
| | - Mark J. Costello
- School of Environment The University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
| | - Yasuhiro Kubota
- Faculty of Science University of the Ryukyus Okinawa Japan
- Marine and Terrestrial Field Ecology, Tropical Biosphere Research Center University of the Ryukyus Okinawa Japan
| | | | - Chi‐Lin Wei
- Institute of Oceanography National Taiwan University Taipei Taiwan
| | - Moriaki Yasuhara
- School of Biological Sciences and Swire Institute of Marine Science The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong China
| | - Anne Chao
- Institute of Statistics National Tsing Hua University Hsin‐Chu Taiwan
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17
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Niu W, Xiao J, Tian P, Yu S, Guo F, Wang J, Huang D. Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome sequences of three Merulinidae corals and novel insights into the phylogenetics. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8455. [PMID: 32002337 PMCID: PMC6984341 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past few decades, modern coral taxonomy, combining morphology and molecular sequence data, has resolved many long-standing questions about scleractinian corals. In this study, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genomes of three Merulinidae corals (Dipsastraea rotumana, Favites pentagona, and Hydnophora exesa) for the first time using next-generation sequencing. The obtained mitogenome sequences ranged from 16,466 bp (D. rotumana) to 18,006 bp (F. pentagona) in length, and included 13 unique protein-coding genes (PCGs), two transfer RNA genes, and two ribosomal RNA genes . Gene arrangement, nucleotide composition, and nucleotide bias of the three Merulinidae corals were canonically identical to each other and consistent with other scleractinian corals. We performed a Bayesian phylogenetic reconstruction based on 13 protein-coding sequences of 86 Scleractinia species. The results showed that the family Merulinidae was conventionally nested within the robust branch, with H. exesa clustered closely with F. pentagona and D. rotumana clustered closely with Favites abdita. This study provides novel insight into the phylogenetics of species within the family Merulinidae and the evolutionary relationships among different Scleractinia genera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wentao Niu
- Laboratory of Marine Biology and Ecology, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Jiaguang Xiao
- Laboratory of Marine Biology and Ecology, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Peng Tian
- Laboratory of Marine Biology and Ecology, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Shuangen Yu
- Laboratory of Marine Biology and Ecology, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Feng Guo
- Laboratory of Marine Biology and Ecology, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Jianjia Wang
- Laboratory of Marine Biology and Ecology, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Dingyong Huang
- Laboratory of Marine Biology and Ecology, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, Fujian, China
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18
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Shimpi GG, Patel NP, Haldar S. Molecular species delimitation of reef-building coral genera, Porites and Turbinaria (Anthozoa: Scleractinia), from the intertidal fringing reefs of Gulf of Kutch, India reveals unrecognized diversity. SYST BIODIVERS 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/14772000.2019.1677798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Gaurav G. Shimpi
- Marine Environment Group, Analytical and Environmental Science Division and Central Instrumentation Facility, CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI), Bhavnagar, Gujarat, 364002, India
- Bombay Natural History Society, Hornbill House, Dr. Salim Ali Chowk, Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Mumbai, 400001, India
| | - Neha P. Patel
- Marine Environment Group, Analytical and Environmental Science Division and Central Instrumentation Facility, CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI), Bhavnagar, Gujarat, 364002, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSIR-CSMCRI), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Gijubhai Badheka Marg, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, 364 002, India
| | - Soumya Haldar
- Marine Environment Group, Analytical and Environmental Science Division and Central Instrumentation Facility, CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI), Bhavnagar, Gujarat, 364002, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSIR-CSMCRI), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Gijubhai Badheka Marg, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, 364 002, India
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19
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Leveque S, Afiq-Rosli L, Ip YCA, Jain SS, Huang D. Searching for phylogenetic patterns of Symbiodiniaceae community structure among Indo-Pacific Merulinidae corals. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7669. [PMID: 31565579 PMCID: PMC6746223 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Over half of all extant stony corals (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Scleractinia) harbour endosymbiotic dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae, forming the foundational species of modern shallow reefs. However, whether these associations are conserved on the coral phylogeny remains unknown. Here we aim to characterise Symbiodiniaceae communities in eight closely-related species in the genera Merulina, Goniastrea and Scapophyllia, and determine if the variation in endosymbiont community structure can be explained by the phylogenetic relatedness among hosts. We perform DNA metabarcoding of the nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 using Symbiodiniaceae-specific primers on 30 coral colonies to recover three major endosymbiont clades represented by 23 distinct types. In agreement with previous studies on Southeast Asian corals, we find an abundance of Cladocopium and Durusdinium, but also detect Symbiodinium types in three of the eight coral host species. Interestingly, differences in endosymbiont community structure are dominated by host variation at the intraspecific level, rather than interspecific, intergeneric or among-clade levels, indicating a lack of phylogenetic constraint in the coral-endosymbiont association among host species. Furthermore, the limited geographic sampling of four localities spanning the Western and Central Indo-Pacific preliminarily hints at large-scale spatial structuring of Symbiodiniaceae communities. More extensive collections of corals from various regions and environments will help us better understand the specificity of the coral-endosymbiont relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Leveque
- National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Université de La Rochelle, La Rochelle, Singapore
| | | | | | | | - Danwei Huang
- National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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20
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Anthropogenic impact is negatively related to coral health in Sicily (Mediterranean Sea). Sci Rep 2019; 9:13469. [PMID: 31530904 PMCID: PMC6748980 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49713-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Shallow-water marine organisms are among the first to suffer from combined effects of natural and anthropogenic drivers. The orange coral Astroides calycularis is a shallow-water bioconstructor species endemic to the Mediterranean Sea. Although raising conservation interest, also given its special position within the Dendrophylliidae, information about the threats to its health is scant. We investigated the health status of A. calycularis at five locations in northwestern Sicily along a gradient of cumulative human impact and the most probable origin of the threats to this species, including anthropogenic land-based and sea-based threats. Cumulative human impact appeared inversely related to the performance of A. calycularis at population, colony, and polyp levels. Sea-based human impacts appeared among the most likely causes of the variation observed. The reduction in polyp length can limit the reproductive performance of A. calycularis, while the decrease of percent cover and colony area is expected to impair its peculiar feeding behaviour by limiting the exploitable dimensional range of prey and, ultimately, reef functioning. This endangered habitat-forming species appeared susceptible to anthropogenic pressures, suggesting the need to re-assess its vulnerability status. Creating microprotected areas with specific restrictions to sea-based human impacts could be the best practice preserve these bioconstructions.
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21
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Cunha RL, Forsman ZH, Belderok R, Knapp ISS, Castilho R, Toonen RJ. Rare coral under the genomic microscope: timing and relationships among Hawaiian Montipora. BMC Evol Biol 2019; 19:153. [PMID: 31340762 PMCID: PMC6657087 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-019-1476-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Evolutionary patterns of scleractinian (stony) corals are difficult to infer given the existence of few diagnostic characters and pervasive phenotypic plasticity. A previous study of Hawaiian Montipora (Scleractinia: Acroporidae) based on five partial mitochondrial and two nuclear genes revealed the existence of a species complex, grouping one of the rarest known species (M. dilatata, which is listed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature - IUCN) with widespread corals of very different colony growth forms (M. flabellata and M. cf. turgescens). These previous results could result from a lack of resolution due to a limited number of markers, compositional heterogeneity or reflect biological processes such as incomplete lineage sorting (ILS) or introgression. Results All 13 mitochondrial protein-coding genes from 55 scleractinians (14 lineages from this study) were used to evaluate if a recent origin of the M. dilatata species complex or rate heterogeneity could be compromising phylogenetic inference. Rate heterogeneity detected in the mitochondrial data set seems to have no significant impacts on the phylogenies but clearly affects age estimates. Dating analyses show different estimations for the speciation of M. dilatata species complex depending on whether taking compositional heterogeneity into account (0.8 [0.05–2.6] Myr) or assuming rate homogeneity (0.4 [0.14–0.75] Myr). Genomic data also provided evidence of introgression among all analysed samples of the complex. RADseq data indicated that M. capitata colour morphs may have a genetic basis. Conclusions Despite the volume of data (over 60,000 SNPs), phylogenetic relationships within the M. dilatata species complex remain unresolved most likely due to a recent origin and ongoing introgression. Species delimitation with genomic data is not concordant with the current taxonomy, which does not reflect the true diversity of this group. Nominal species within the complex are either undergoing a speciation process or represent ecomorphs exhibiting phenotypic polymorphisms. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12862-019-1476-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regina L Cunha
- University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal. .,Centre of Marine Sciences, CCMAR, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal.
| | - Zac H Forsman
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Kāne'ohe, HI, 96744, USA
| | - Roy Belderok
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Kāne'ohe, HI, 96744, USA
| | - Ingrid S S Knapp
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Kāne'ohe, HI, 96744, USA
| | - Rita Castilho
- University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal.,Centre of Marine Sciences, CCMAR, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
| | - Robert J Toonen
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Kāne'ohe, HI, 96744, USA
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22
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Effects of missing data and data type on phylotranscriptomic analysis of stony corals (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Scleractinia). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2019; 134:12-23. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2019.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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23
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Adeoba M, Tesfamichael SG, Yessoufou K. Preserving the tree of life of the fish family Cyprinidae in Africa in the face of the ongoing extinction crisis. Genome 2019; 62:170-182. [DOI: 10.1139/gen-2018-0023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Our understanding of how the phylogenetic tree of fishes might be affected by the ongoing extinction risk is poor. This is due to the unavailability of comprehensive DNA data, especially for many African lineages. In addition, the ongoing taxonomic confusion within some lineages, e.g., Cyprinidae, makes it difficult to contribute to the debate on how the fish tree of life might be shaped by extinction. Here, we combine COI sequences and taxonomic information to assemble a fully sampled phylogeny of the African Cyprinidae and investigate whether we might lose more phylogenetic diversity (PD) than expected if currently threatened species go extinct. We found evidence for phylogenetic signal in extinction risk, suggesting that some lineages might be at higher risk than others. Based on simulated extinctions, we found that the loss of all threatened species, which approximates 37% of total PD, would lead to a greater loss of PD than expected, although highly evolutionarily distinct species are not particularly at risk. Pending the reconstruction of an improved multi-gene phylogeny, our results suggest that prioritizing high-EDGE species (evolutionary distinct and globally endangered species) in conservation programmes, particularly in some geographic regions, would contribute significantly to safeguarding the tree of life of the African Cyprinidae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariam Adeoba
- Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Kingsway Campus, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa
| | - Solomon G. Tesfamichael
- Department of Geography, Environmental Management and Energy Studies, University of Johannesburg, Kingsway Campus, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa
| | - Kowiyou Yessoufou
- Department of Geography, Environmental Management and Energy Studies, University of Johannesburg, Kingsway Campus, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa
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24
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25
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Muir PR, Wallace CC, Pichon M, Bongaerts P. High species richness and lineage diversity of reef corals in the mesophotic zone. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:20181987. [PMID: 30963905 PMCID: PMC6304044 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.1987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs are increasingly threatened by thermal bleaching and tropical storm events associated with rising sea surface temperatures. Deeper habitats offer some protection from these impacts and may safeguard reef-coral biodiversity, but their faunas are largely undescribed for the Indo-Pacific. Here, we show high species richness of scleractinian corals in mesophotic habitats (30-125 m) for the northern Great Barrier Reef region that greatly exceeds previous records for mesophotic habitats globally. Overall, 45% of shallow-reef species (less than or equal to 30 m), 78% of genera, and all families extended below 30 m depth, with 13% of species, 41% of genera, and 78% of families extending below 45 m. Maximum depth of occurrence showed a weak relationship to phylogeny, but a strong correlation with maximum latitudinal extent. Species recorded in the mesophotic had a significantly greater than expected probability of also occurring in shaded microhabitats and at higher latitudes, consistent with light as a common limiting factor. The findings suggest an important role for deeper habitats, particularly depths 30-45 m, in preserving evolutionary lineages of Indo-Pacific corals. Deeper reef areas are clearly more diverse than previously acknowledged and therefore deserve full consideration in our efforts to protect the world's coral reef biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul R. Muir
- Queensland Museum, Biodiversity and Geosciences, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia
| | - Carden C. Wallace
- Queensland Museum, Biodiversity and Geosciences, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia
| | - Michel Pichon
- Queensland Museum, Biodiversity and Geosciences, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia
| | - Pim Bongaerts
- Global Change Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
- California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA
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26
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Ying H, Cooke I, Sprungala S, Wang W, Hayward DC, Tang Y, Huttley G, Ball EE, Forêt S, Miller DJ. Comparative genomics reveals the distinct evolutionary trajectories of the robust and complex coral lineages. Genome Biol 2018; 19:175. [PMID: 30384840 PMCID: PMC6214176 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-018-1552-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the biological and economic significance of scleractinian reef-building corals, the lack of large molecular datasets for a representative range of species limits understanding of many aspects of their biology. Within the Scleractinia, based on molecular evidence, it is generally recognised that there are two major clades, Complexa and Robusta, but the genomic bases of significant differences between them remain unclear. RESULTS Draft genome assemblies and annotations were generated for three coral species: Galaxea fascicularis (Complexa), Fungia sp., and Goniastrea aspera (Robusta). Whilst phylogenetic analyses strongly support a deep split between Complexa and Robusta, synteny analyses reveal a high level of gene order conservation between all corals, but not between corals and sea anemones or between sea anemones. HOX-related gene clusters are, however, well preserved across all of these combinations. Differences between species are apparent in the distribution and numbers of protein domains and an apparent correlation between number of HSP20 proteins and stress tolerance. Uniquely amongst animals, a complete histidine biosynthesis pathway is present in robust corals but not in complex corals or sea anemones. This pathway appears to be ancestral, and its retention in the robust coral lineage has important implications for coral nutrition and symbiosis. CONCLUSIONS The availability of three new coral genomes enabled recognition of a de novo histidine biosynthesis pathway in robust corals which is only the second identified biosynthetic difference between corals. These datasets provide a platform for understanding many aspects of coral biology, particularly the interactions of corals with their endosymbionts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Ying
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601 Australia
| | - Ira Cooke
- Comparative Genomics Centre, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
| | - Susanne Sprungala
- Comparative Genomics Centre, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
| | - Weiwen Wang
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601 Australia
| | - David C. Hayward
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601 Australia
| | - Yurong Tang
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601 Australia
- Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Unit, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601 Australia
| | - Gavin Huttley
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601 Australia
- Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Unit, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601 Australia
| | - Eldon E. Ball
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601 Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
| | - Sylvain Forêt
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601 Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
| | - David J. Miller
- Comparative Genomics Centre, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia
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Abstract
Driven by limited resources and a sense of urgency, the prioritization of species for conservation has been a persistent concern in conservation science. Gymnosperms (comprising ginkgo, conifers, cycads, and gnetophytes) are one of the most threatened groups of living organisms, with 40% of the species at high risk of extinction, about twice as many as the most recent estimates for all plants (i.e. 21.4%). This high proportion of species facing extinction highlights the urgent action required to secure their future through an objective prioritization approach. The Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) method rapidly ranks species based on their evolutionary distinctiveness and the extinction risks they face. EDGE is applied to gymnosperms using a phylogenetic tree comprising DNA sequence data for 85% of gymnosperm species (923 out of 1090 species), to which the 167 missing species were added, and IUCN Red List assessments available for 92% of species. The effect of different extinction probability transformations and the handling of IUCN data deficient species on the resulting rankings is investigated. Although top entries in our ranking comprise species that were expected to score well (e.g. Wollemia nobilis, Ginkgo biloba), many were unexpected (e.g. Araucaria araucana). These results highlight the necessity of using approaches that integrate evolutionary information in conservation science.
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28
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Huang D, Goldberg EE, Chou LM, Roy K. The origin and evolution of coral species richness in a marine biodiversity hotspot. Evolution 2017; 72:288-302. [PMID: 29178128 DOI: 10.1111/evo.13402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Revised: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The Coral Triangle (CT) region of the Indo-Pacific realm harbors an extraordinary number of species, with richness decreasing away from this biodiversity hotspot. Despite multiple competing hypotheses, the dynamics underlying this regional diversity pattern remain poorly understood. Here, we use a time-calibrated evolutionary tree of living reef coral species, their current geographic ranges, and model-based estimates of regional rates of speciation, extinction, and geographic range shifts to show that origination rates within the CT are lower than in surrounding regions, a result inconsistent with the long-standing center of origin hypothesis. Furthermore, endemism of coral species in the CT is low, and the CT endemics are older than relatives found outside this region. Overall, our model results suggest that the high diversity of reef corals in the CT is largely due to range expansions into this region of species that evolved elsewhere. These findings strongly support the notion that geographic range shifts play a critical role in generating species diversity gradients. They also show that preserving the processes that gave rise to the striking diversity of corals in the CT requires protecting not just reefs within the hotspot, but also those in the surrounding areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danwei Huang
- Department of Biological Sciences and Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore
| | - Emma E Goldberg
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108
| | - Loke Ming Chou
- Department of Biological Sciences and Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore
| | - Kaustuv Roy
- Section of Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093
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29
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Species Richness and Relative Abundance of Reef-Building Corals in the Indo-West Pacific. DIVERSITY-BASEL 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/d9030025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Scleractinian corals, the main framework builders of coral reefs, are in serious global decline, although there remains significant uncertainty as to the consequences for individual species and particular regions. We assessed coral species richness and ranked relative abundance across 3075 depth-stratified survey sites, each < 0.5 ha in area, using a standardized rapid assessment method, in 31 Indo-West Pacific (IWP) coral ecoregions (ERs), from 1994 to 2016. The ecoregions cover a significant proportion of the ranges of most IWP reef coral species, including main centres of diversity, providing a baseline (albeit a shifted one) of species abundance over a large area of highly endangered reef systems, facilitating study of future change. In all, 672 species were recorded. The richest sites and ERs were all located in the Coral Triangle. Local (site) richness peaked at 224 species in Halmahera ER (IWP mean 71 species Standard Deviation 38 species). Nineteen species occurred in more than half of all sites, all but one occurring in more than 90% of ERs. Representing 13 genera, these widespread species exhibit a broad range of life histories, indicating that no particular strategy, or taxonomic affiliation, conferred particular ecological advantage. For most other species, occurrence and abundance varied markedly among different ERs, some having pronounced “centres of abundance”. Conversely, another 40 species, also with widely divergent life histories, were very rare, occurring in five or fewer sites, 14 species of which are ranked as “Vulnerable” or “Endangered” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Others may also qualify in these Threatened categories under criteria of small geographic range and population fragmentation, the utility of which is briefly assessed.
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30
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Mounce R, Murray-Rust P, Wills M. A machine-compiled microbial supertree from figure-mining thousands of papers. RESEARCH IDEAS AND OUTCOMES 2017. [DOI: 10.3897/rio.3.e13589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
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31
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32
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Baird AH, Hoogenboom MO, Huang D. Cyphastrea salae, a new species of hard coral from Lord Howe Island, Australia (Scleractinia, Merulinidae). Zookeys 2017; 662:49-66. [PMID: 28769608 PMCID: PMC5539699 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.662.11454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2016] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A new zooxanthellate reef-dwelling scleractinian coral species, Cyphastrea salaesp. n. (Scleractinia, Merulinidae), is described from Lord Howe Island Australia. The new species can be distinguished morphologically from the only other congeneric species on Lord Howe Island, C. microphthalma, by the number of primary septa (12 vs. 10) and the much taller corallites (mean ± SE: 1.0 ± 0.07 mm v 0.4 ± 0.04 mm). The relationship of C. salae to four of the other eleven currently accepted species in the genus was explored through analyses of nuclear (28S rDNA) and mitochondrial (noncoding intergenic region) gene sequences. Cyphastrea salaesp. n. forms a strongly supported clade that is distinct from a clade containing three species found commonly in Australia, C. chalcidicum, C. serailia, and C. microphthalma. One specimen was also found in the Solitary Islands, another high latitude location in south-eastern Australia. The discovery of a new species in the genus Cyphastrea on high latitude reefs in south-eastern Australia suggests that other new species might be found among more diverse genera represented here and that the scleractinian fauna of these isolated locations is more distinct than previously recognised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew H. Baird
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Mia O. Hoogenboom
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Danwei Huang
- Department of Biological Sciences & Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore
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33
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Huang D, Arrigoni R, Benzoni F, Fukami H, Knowlton N, Smith ND, Stolarski J, Chou LM, Budd AF. Taxonomic classification of the reef coral family Lobophylliidae (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Scleractinia). Zool J Linn Soc 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/zoj.12391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Danwei Huang
- Department of Biological Sciences and Tropical Marine Science Institute; National University of Singapore; Singapore 117543 Singapore
| | - Roberto Arrigoni
- Red Sea Research Center; Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering; King Abdullah University of Science and Technology; Thuwal 23955-6900 Saudi Arabia
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences; University of Milano-Bicocca; Piazza della Scienza 2 20126 Milan Italy
| | - Francesca Benzoni
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences; University of Milano-Bicocca; Piazza della Scienza 2 20126 Milan Italy
| | - Hironobu Fukami
- Department of Marine Biology and Environmental Science; University of Miyazaki; Miyazaki 889-2192 Japan
| | - Nancy Knowlton
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology; National Museum of Natural History; Smithsonian Institution; Washington DC 20013 USA
| | - Nathan D. Smith
- The Dinosaur Institute; Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County; 900 Exposition Boulevard Los Angeles CA 90007 USA
| | - Jarosław Stolarski
- Institute of Paleobiology; Polish Academy of Sciences; Twarda 51/55 PL-00-818 Warsaw Poland
| | - Loke Ming Chou
- Department of Biological Sciences and Tropical Marine Science Institute; National University of Singapore; Singapore 117543 Singapore
| | - Ann F. Budd
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences; University of Iowa; Iowa City IA 52242 USA
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34
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Swain TD, Strimaitis AM, Reuter KE, Boudreau W. Towards integrative systematics of Anthozoa (Cnidaria): evolution of form in the order Zoanthidea. ZOOL SCR 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy D. Swain
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Northwestern University Evanston IL 60208 USA
- Integrative Research Center Field Museum of Natural History Chicago IL 60605USA
| | - Anna M. Strimaitis
- Department of Biological Science Florida State University Tallahassee FL 32306 USA
| | - Kim E. Reuter
- Africa & Madagascar Field Division Conservation International Koitobos Road, Hardy Office Park, Karen Nairobi Kenya
| | - William Boudreau
- Department of Biological Science Florida State University Tallahassee FL 32306 USA
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35
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Okubo N. Restructuring the Traditional Suborders in the Order Scleractinia Based on Embryogenetic Morphological Characteristics. Zoolog Sci 2016; 33:116-23. [PMID: 26853877 DOI: 10.2108/zs150094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The order Scleractinia includes two distinct groups, which are termed "complex" and "robust" as indicated by the molecular phylogeny of mitochondrial 16S ribosomal gene sequences. Since this discovery, coral taxonomists have been seeking morphological characters for grouping this deep division in the order Scleractinia. Recently, morphological characteristics during embryogenesis that facilitate grouping the two clades as "complex" and "robust" were reported, thus clarifying a deep division in the Scleractinia. In the present report, I establish two new suborders, Refertina and Vacatina, on the basis of the embryogenetic morphological characteristics, molecular data, and new observations of Tubastraea coccinea and Cyphastrea serailia embryogenesis. In particular, the embryo of T. coccinea has a possible fertilization membrane that was first observed in the phylum Cnidaria. The new suborder Refertina consists of the families that belong to the "complex" clade and have no or little blastocoel. The new suborder Vacatina is composed of the families that fall into the "robust" clade and have an apparent blastocoel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nami Okubo
- Department of Economics, Tokyo Keizai University, 1-7-34 Minamimachi, Kokubunji, Tokyo 185-8502, Japan
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36
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Madin JS, Hoogenboom MO, Connolly SR, Darling ES, Falster DS, Huang D, Keith SA, Mizerek T, Pandolfi JM, Putnam HM, Baird AH. A Trait-Based Approach to Advance Coral Reef Science. Trends Ecol Evol 2016; 31:419-428. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2016.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2015] [Revised: 02/09/2016] [Accepted: 02/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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37
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Addamo AM, Vertino A, Stolarski J, García-Jiménez R, Taviani M, Machordom A. Merging scleractinian genera: the overwhelming genetic similarity between solitary Desmophyllum and colonial Lophelia. BMC Evol Biol 2016; 16:108. [PMID: 27193263 PMCID: PMC4870751 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-016-0654-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2015] [Accepted: 04/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In recent years, several types of molecular markers and new microscale skeletal characters have shown potential as powerful tools for phylogenetic reconstructions and higher-level taxonomy of scleractinian corals. Nonetheless, discrimination of closely related taxa is still highly controversial in scleractinian coral research. Here we used newly sequenced complete mitochondrial genomes and 30 microsatellites to define the genetic divergence between two closely related azooxanthellate taxa of the family Caryophylliidae: solitary Desmophyllum dianthus and colonial Lophelia pertusa. Results In the mitochondrial control region, an astonishing 99.8 % of nucleotides between L. pertusa and D. dianthus were identical. Variability of the mitochondrial genomes of the two species is represented by only 12 non-synonymous out of 19 total nucleotide substitutions. Microsatellite sequence (37 loci) analysis of L. pertusa and D. dianthus showed genetic similarity is about 97 %. Our results also indicated that L. pertusa and D. dianthus show high skeletal plasticity in corallum shape and similarity in skeletal ontogeny, micromorphological (septal and wall granulations) and microstructural characters (arrangement of rapid accretion deposits, thickening deposits). Conclusions Molecularly and morphologically, the solitary Desmophyllum and the dendroid Lophelia appear to be significantly more similar to each other than other unambiguous coral genera analysed to date. This consequently leads to ascribe both taxa under the generic name Desmophyllum (priority by date of publication). Findings of this study demonstrate that coloniality may not be a robust taxonomic character in scleractinian corals. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-016-0654-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Maria Addamo
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - Agostina Vertino
- Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Ambiente e del Territorio e di Scienze della Terra, Università di Milano Bicocca (UNIMIB), Piazza della Scienza 4, 20126, Milan, Italy.,Department of Geology Renard Centre of Marine Geology, Universiteit Ghent, Krijgslaan 281, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jaroslaw Stolarski
- Polskiej Akademii Nauk, Instytut Paleobiologii, Twarda 51/55, PL-00-818, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ricardo García-Jiménez
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marco Taviani
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Scienze Marine (ISMAR), Via Gobetti 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy.,Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 266 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, 02543, MA, USA.,Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Naples, Italy
| | - Annie Machordom
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain.
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38
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Cordie DR, Budd AF. Histological data in a combined phylogenetic analysis of scleractinian reef corals. J Morphol 2016; 277:494-511. [DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2015] [Revised: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David R. Cordie
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences; University of Iowa; Iowa City Iowa 52242
| | - Ann F. Budd
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences; University of Iowa; Iowa City Iowa 52242
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39
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Cryptic genetic divergence within threatened species of Acropora coral from the Indian and Pacific Oceans. CONSERV GENET 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-015-0807-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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40
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Redding DW, Mooers AO. Ranking Mammal Species for Conservation and the Loss of Both Phylogenetic and Trait Diversity. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0141435. [PMID: 26630179 PMCID: PMC4668038 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2014] [Accepted: 10/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The 'edge of existence' (EDGE) prioritisation scheme is a new approach to rank species for conservation attention that aims to identify species that are both isolated on the tree of life and at imminent risk of extinction as defined by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The self-stated benefit of the EDGE system is that it effectively captures unusual 'unique' species, and doing so will preserve the total evolutionary history of a group into the future. Given the EDGE metric was not designed to capture total evolutionary history, we tested this claim. Our analyses show that the total evolutionary history of mammals preserved is indeed much higher if EDGE species are protected than if at-risk species are chosen randomly. More of the total tree is also protected by EDGE species than if solely threat status or solely evolutionary distinctiveness were used for prioritisation. When considering how much trait diversity is captured by IUCN and EDGE prioritisation rankings, interestingly, preserving the highest-ranked EDGE species, or indeed just the most threatened species, captures more total trait diversity compared to sets of randomly-selected at-risk species. These results suggest that, as advertised, EDGE mammal species contribute evolutionary history to the evolutionary tree of mammals non-randomly, and EDGE-style rankings among endangered species can also capture important trait diversity. If this pattern holds for other groups, the EDGE prioritisation scheme has greater potential to be an efficient method to allocate scarce conservation effort.
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Affiliation(s)
- David W. Redding
- BISC, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
- IRMACS, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
- CBER, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Arne O. Mooers
- BISC, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
- IRMACS, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
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41
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van der Meij SET, Fransen CHJM, Pasman LR, Hoeksema BW. Phylogenetic ecology of gall crabs (Cryptochiridae) as associates of mushroom corals (Fungiidae). Ecol Evol 2015; 5:5770-80. [PMID: 26811752 PMCID: PMC4717343 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2015] [Revised: 09/30/2015] [Accepted: 10/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral‐associated fauna is a relatively understudied topic. Hence, the nature of the relationship between an associated organism and its host is usually unknown. In the present study, the obligate associations between gall crabs (Decapoda: Cryptochiridae) and mushroom corals (Scleractinia: Fungiidae) are reviewed from a phylogenetic perspective. Based on field surveys, examination of museum material and a literature review, a total of 35 fungiid species have been found that act as hosts for four gall crab species. Fungiid‐associated gall crabs appear to be more geographically widespread than previously known, with new records showing their occurrences from the Red Sea and western Indian Ocean all the way to the central Pacific Ocean. The obligate nature of the association between cryptochirids and their hosts makes them an ideal model taxon to test for possible cospeciation events. The congruence between their phylogenies was tested by using the program Jane 4.0, resulting in cospeciation and duplication events between the crabs and their host corals. The sharing of several closely related host coral species by the same gall crab species or genus may provide support to models indicating phylogenetic relationships within the Scleractinia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sancia E T van der Meij
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center Darwinweg 22333 CR Leiden The Netherlands; Oxford University Museum of Natural History Parks Road Oxford OX1 3PW UK
| | | | - Leon R Pasman
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center Darwinweg 2 2333 CR Leiden The Netherlands
| | - Bert W Hoeksema
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center Darwinweg 2 2333 CR Leiden The Netherlands
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42
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Santodomingo N, Wallace CC, Johnson KG. Fossils reveal a high diversity of the staghorn coral generaAcroporaandIsopora(Scleractinia: Acroporidae) in the Neogene of Indonesia. Zool J Linn Soc 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/zoj.12295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nadiezhda Santodomingo
- Department of Earth Sciences; Natural History Museum; Cromwell Road London SW7 5BD UK
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center; P.O. Box 9517 2300 RA Leiden the Netherlands
| | - Carden C. Wallace
- Museum of Tropical Queensland; 70-102 Flinders St. Townsville QLD 4810 Australia
| | - Kenneth G. Johnson
- Department of Earth Sciences; Natural History Museum; Cromwell Road London SW7 5BD UK
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43
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Veron S, Davies TJ, Cadotte MW, Clergeau P, Pavoine S. Predicting loss of evolutionary history: Where are we? Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2015; 92:271-291. [PMID: 26467982 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2014] [Revised: 09/10/2015] [Accepted: 09/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The Earth's evolutionary history is threatened by species loss in the current sixth mass extinction event in Earth's history. Such extinction events not only eliminate species but also their unique evolutionary histories. Here we review the expected loss of Earth's evolutionary history quantified by phylogenetic diversity (PD) and evolutionary distinctiveness (ED) at risk. Due to the general paucity of data, global evolutionary history losses have been predicted for only a few groups, such as mammals, birds, amphibians, plants, corals and fishes. Among these groups, there is now empirical support that extinction threats are clustered on the phylogeny; however this is not always a sufficient condition to cause higher loss of phylogenetic diversity in comparison to a scenario of random extinctions. Extinctions of the most evolutionarily distinct species and the shape of phylogenetic trees are additional factors that can elevate losses of evolutionary history. Consequently, impacts of species extinctions differ among groups and regions, and even if global losses are low within large groups, losses can be high among subgroups or within some regions. Further, we show that PD and ED are poorly protected by current conservation practices. While evolutionary history can be indirectly protected by current conservation schemes, optimizing its preservation requires integrating phylogenetic indices with those that capture rarity and extinction risk. Measures based on PD and ED could bring solutions to conservation issues, however they are still rarely used in practice, probably because the reasons to protect evolutionary history are not clear for practitioners or due to a lack of data. However, important advances have been made in the availability of phylogenetic trees and methods for their construction, as well as assessments of extinction risk. Some challenges remain, and looking forward, research should prioritize the assessment of expected PD and ED loss for more taxonomic groups and test the assumption that preserving ED and PD also protects rare species and ecosystem services. Such research will be useful to inform and guide the conservation of Earth's biodiversity and the services it provides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Veron
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO UMR7204), Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, CP51, 55-61 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France
| | - T Jonathan Davies
- Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 ave Docteur Penfield, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1B1, Canada.,African Centre for DNA Barcoding, University of Johannesburg, APK Campus, PO Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Marc W Cadotte
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Philippe Clergeau
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO UMR7204), Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, CP51, 55-61 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Sandrine Pavoine
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO UMR7204), Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, CP51, 55-61 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France.,Mathematical Ecology Research Group, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, U.K
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44
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Towards a Supertree of Arthropoda: A Species-Level Supertree of the Spiny, Slipper and Coral Lobsters (Decapoda: Achelata). PLoS One 2015; 10:e0140110. [PMID: 26461106 PMCID: PMC4603899 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Accepted: 08/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
While supertrees have been built for many vertebrate groups (notably birds, mammals and dinosaurs), invertebrates have attracted relatively little attention. The paucity of supertrees of arthropods is particularly surprising given their economic and ecological importance, as well as their overwhelming contribution to biodiversity. The absence of comprehensive archives of machine-readable source trees, coupled with the need for software implementing repeatable protocols for managing them, has undoubtedly impeded progress. Here we present a supertree of Achelata (spiny, slipper and coral lobsters) as a proof of concept, constructed using new supertree specific software (the Supertree Toolkit; STK) and following a published protocol. We also introduce a new resource for archiving and managing published source trees. Our supertree of Achelata is synthesised from morphological and molecular source trees, and represents the most complete species-level tree of the group to date. Our findings are consistent with recent taxonomic treatments, confirming the validity of just two families: Palinuridae and Scyllaridae; Synaxidae were resolved within Palinuridae. Monophyletic Silentes and Stridentes lineages are recovered within Palinuridae, and all sub-families within Scyllaridae are found to be monophyletic with the exception of Ibacinae. We demonstrate the feasibility of building larger supertrees of arthropods, with the ultimate objective of building a complete species-level phylogeny for the entire phylum using a divide and conquer strategy.
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45
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Huang D, Roy K. The future of evolutionary diversity in reef corals. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2015; 370:20140010. [PMID: 25561671 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2014.0010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
One-third of the world's reef-building corals are facing heightened extinction risk from climate change and other anthropogenic impacts. Previous studies have shown that such threats are not distributed randomly across the coral tree of life, and future extinctions have the potential to disproportionately reduce the phylogenetic diversity of this group on a global scale. However, the impact of such losses on a regional scale remains poorly known. In this study, we use phylogenetic metrics in conjunction with geographical distributions of living reef coral species to model how extinctions are likely to affect evolutionary diversity across different ecoregions. Based on two measures-phylogenetic diversity and phylogenetic species variability-we highlight regions with the largest losses of evolutionary diversity and hence of potential conservation interest. Notably, the projected loss of evolutionary diversity is relatively low in the most species-rich areas such as the Coral Triangle, while many regions with fewer species stand to lose much larger shares of their diversity. We also suggest that for complex ecosystems like coral reefs it is important to consider changes in phylogenetic species variability; areas with disproportionate declines in this measure should be of concern even if phylogenetic diversity is not as impacted. These findings underscore the importance of integrating evolutionary history into conservation planning for safeguarding the future diversity of coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danwei Huang
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Kaustuv Roy
- Section of Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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46
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Hoehn KB, Harnik PG, Roth VL. A framework for detecting natural selection on traits above the species level. Methods Ecol Evol 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.12461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth B. Hoehn
- Biology Department Duke University Durham NC 27708‐0338 USA
- Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford OX1 3PS UK
| | - Paul G. Harnik
- Department of Earth and Environment Franklin and Marshall College Lancaster PA 17604 USA
| | - V. Louise Roth
- Biology Department Duke University Durham NC 27708‐0338 USA
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47
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Grange JS, Rybarczyk H, Tribollet A. The three steps of the carbonate biogenic dissolution process by microborers in coral reefs (New Caledonia). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 22:13625-13637. [PMID: 25592911 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-014-4069-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2014] [Accepted: 12/30/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Biogenic dissolution of carbonates by microborers is one of the main destructive forces in coral reefs and is predicted to be enhanced by eutrophication and ocean acidification by 2100. The chlorophyte Ostreobium sp., the main agent of this process, has been reported to be one of the most responsive of all microboring species to those environmental factors. However, very little is known about its recruitment, how it develops over successions of microboring communities, and how that influences rates of biogenic dissolution. Thus, an experiment with dead coral blocks exposed to colonization by microborers was carried out on a reef in New Caledonia over a year period. Each month, a few blocks were collected to study microboring communities and the associated rates of biogenic dissolution. Our results showed a drastic shift in community species composition between the 4th and 5th months of exposure, i.e., pioneer communities dominated by large chlorophytes such as Phaeophila sp. were replaced by mature communities dominated by Ostreobium sp. Prior the 4th month of exposure, large chlorophytes were responsible for low rates of biogenic dissolution while during the community shift, rates increased exponentially (×10). After 6 months of exposure, rates slowed down and reached a "plateau" with a mean of 0.93 kg of CaCO3 dissolved per m(2) of reef after 12 months of exposure. Here, we show that (a) Ostreobium sp. settled down in new dead substrates as soon as the 3rd month of exposure but dominated communities only after 5 months of exposure and (b) microbioerosion dynamics comprise three distinct steps which fully depend on community development stage and grazing pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- J S Grange
- IRD-Sorbonne Universités (Univ. Paris 6) UPMC-CNRS-MNHN, Laboratoire IPSL-LOCEAN, 32 Avenue Henri Varagnat, 93143, Bondy, France,
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Fukami H. Regional specific approach is a next step for setting evolutionary-based conservation priorities in the scleractinian corals. Anim Conserv 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- H. Fukami
- Department of Marine Biology and Environmental Science; Faculty of Agriculture; University of Miyazaki; Miyazaki Japan
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Warner PA, van Oppen MJH, Willis BL. Unexpected cryptic species diversity in the widespread coralSeriatopora hystrixmasks spatial-genetic patterns of connectivity. Mol Ecol 2015; 24:2993-3008. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.13225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2015] [Revised: 04/25/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia A. Warner
- AIMS@JCU; Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies; James Cook University; Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
- College of Marine and Environmental Sciences; James Cook University; Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
| | - Madeleine J. H. van Oppen
- AIMS@JCU; Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies; James Cook University; Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science; PMB3, Townsville MC; Townsville Qld 4810 Australia
| | - Bette L. Willis
- AIMS@JCU; Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies; James Cook University; Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
- College of Marine and Environmental Sciences; James Cook University; Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
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