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Guastella R, Evans J, Mancin N, Caruso A, Marchini A. Assessing the effect of Amphistegina lobifera invasion on infralittoral benthic foraminiferal assemblages in the Sicily Channel (Central Mediterranean). MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 192:106247. [PMID: 37931441 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
This article documents, through a quantitative approach, the negative effect of the highly invasive species Amphistegina lobifera Larsen, 1976 on native benthic foraminiferal assemblages of coastal areas in the Sicily Channel (Central Mediterranean). A nested sampling design was applied through the comparison of benthic foraminiferal community structure across three areas that are known to be at different stages of invasion (i.e. Maltese Islands - advanced, southern Sicily - medium, and eastern Sicily - early). Results suggested that both diversity and richness of benthic foraminiferal community from the Maltese Islands were strongly modified by increased abundances of A. lobifera. In contrast, this phenomenon is less evident in southern and eastern Sicily, where the invader displayed lower abundances and the community structure was more diversified. Collected data also allowed for predicting what could happen in the near future in the whole Sicily Channel, as well as in the rest of the Mediterranean Sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Guastella
- Dipartimento di Scienze Della Terra e Dell'Ambiente, Università di Pavia, Via Ferrata 1, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Julian Evans
- Department of Biology, University of Malta, Msida, MSD 2080, Malta.
| | - Nicoletta Mancin
- Dipartimento di Scienze Della Terra e Dell'Ambiente, Università di Pavia, Via Ferrata 1, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Antonio Caruso
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi 18, 90123, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Agnese Marchini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Della Terra e Dell'Ambiente, Università di Pavia, Via Ferrata 1, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
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Nguyen N, Pawłowska J, Angeles IB, Zajaczkowski M, Pawłowski J. Metabarcoding reveals high diversity of benthic foraminifera linked to water masses circulation at coastal Svalbard. GEOBIOLOGY 2023; 21:133-150. [PMID: 36259453 PMCID: PMC10092302 DOI: 10.1111/gbi.12530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Arctic marine biodiversity is undergoing rapid changes due to global warming and modifications of oceanic water masses circulation. These changes have been demonstrated in the case of mega- and macrofauna, but much less is known about their impact on the biodiversity of smaller size organisms, such as foraminifera that represent a main component of meiofauna in the Arctic. Several studies analyzed the distribution and diversity of Arctic foraminifera. However, all these studies are based exclusively on the morphological identification of specimens sorted from sediment samples. Here, we present the first assessment of Arctic foraminifera diversity based on metabarcoding of sediment DNA samples collected in fjords and open sea areas in the Svalbard Archipelago. We obtained a total of 5,968,786 reads that represented 1384 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs). More than half of the ASVs (51.7%) could not be assigned to any group in the reference database suggesting a high genetic novelty of Svalbard foraminifera. The sieved and unsieved samples resolved comparable communities, sharing 1023 ASVs, comprising over 97% of reads. Our analyses show that the foraminiferal assemblage differs between the localities, with communities distinctly separated between fjord and open sea stations. Each locality was characterized by a specific assemblage, with only a small overlap in the case of open sea areas. Our study demonstrates a clear pattern of the influence of water masses on the structure of foraminiferal communities. The stations situated on the western coast of Svalbard that are strongly influenced by warm and salty Atlantic water (AW) are characterized by much higher diversity than stations in the northern and eastern part, where the impact of AW is less pronounced. This high diversity and specificity of Svalbard foraminifera associated with water mass distribution indicate that the foraminiferal metabarcoding data can be very useful for inferring present and past environmental conditions in the Arctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngoc‐Loi Nguyen
- Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of SciencesSopotPoland
| | | | - Inès Barrenechea Angeles
- Department of Earth SciencesUniversity of GenevaGenevaSwitzerland
- Department of Genetics and EvolutionUniversity of GenevaGenevaSwitzerland
| | | | - Jan Pawłowski
- Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of SciencesSopotPoland
- Department of Genetics and EvolutionUniversity of GenevaGenevaSwitzerland
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3
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Prazeres M, Roberts TE, Ramadhani SF, Doo SS, Schmidt C, Stuhr M, Renema W. Diversity and flexibility of algal symbiont community in globally distributed larger benthic foraminifera of the genus Amphistegina. BMC Microbiol 2021; 21:243. [PMID: 34488648 PMCID: PMC8422653 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-021-02299-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Understanding the specificity and flexibility of the algal symbiosis-host association is fundamental for predicting how species occupy a diverse range of habitats. Here we assessed the algal symbiosis diversity of three species of larger benthic foraminifera from the genus Amphistegina and investigated the role of habitat and species identity in shaping the associated algal community. Results We used next-generation sequencing to identify the associated algal community, and DNA barcoding to identify the diatom endosymbionts associated with species of A. lobifera, A. lessonii, and A. radiata, collected from shallow habitats (< 15 m) in 16 sites, ranging from the Mediterranean Sea to French Polynesia. Next-generation sequencing results showed the consistent presence of Ochrophyta as the main algal phylum associated with all species and sites analysed. A significant proportion of phylotypes were classified as Chlorophyta and Myzozoa. We uncovered unprecedented diversity of algal phylotypes found in low abundance, especially of the class Bacillariophyta (i.e., diatoms). We found a significant influence of sites rather than host identity in shaping algal communities in all species. DNA barcoding revealed the consistent presence of phylotypes classified within the order Fragilariales as the diatoms associated with A. lobifera and A. lessonii, while A. radiata specimens host predominately diatoms of the order Triceratiales. Conclusions We show that local habitat is the main factor influencing the overall composition of the algal symbiont community. However, host identity and the phylogenetic relationship among hosts is relevant in shaping the specific endosymbiont diatom community, suggesting that the relationship between diatom endosymbiont and hosts plays a crucial role in the evolutionary history of the genus Amphistegina. The capacity of Amphistegina species to associate with a diverse array of diatoms, and possibly other algal groups, likely underpins the ecological success of these crucial calcifying organisms across their extensive geographic range. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12866-021-02299-8.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Steve S Doo
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Bremen, Germany.,Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, USA
| | - Christiane Schmidt
- MARUM, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany.,University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Marleen Stuhr
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Bremen, Germany.,Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences (IUI), Eilat, Israel.,Bar-Ilan University (BIU), Ramat Gan, Israel
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4
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A'ziz ANA, Minhat FI, Pan HJ, Shaari H, Saelan WNW, Azmi N, Manaf OARA, Ismail MN. Reef foraminifera as bioindicators of coral reef health in southern South China Sea. Sci Rep 2021; 11:8890. [PMID: 33903697 PMCID: PMC8076234 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88404-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Pulau Tioman is a famous tourist island off Peninsular Malaysia with beautiful coral reefs. This study aims to assess the health of the coral reefs surrounding Pulau Tioman based on the application of the Foraminifera in Reef Assessment and Monitoring Index (FI). Ten sampling sites around Pulau Tioman were studied with a total of 30 samples. Eight orders, 41 families, 80 genera, and 161 species of benthic foraminifera were identified. The agglutinated type of foraminifera constituted 2–8% of the total assemblages. Calcareous hyaline and porcelaneous groups represented 79% and 19% of the total assemblages, respectively. Symbiont-bearing taxa were the most common foraminifera. The results indicate that most of the sampling sites are conducive for coral reef growth with good recoverability from future stress to the ecosystem. However, several areas with higher coastal development and tourism have reduced water and sediment quality. Therefore, the limit on the number of visitors and tourists should be revised to enable coral growth and health. The FI values in this study showed a positive correlation with good water qualities and a negative correlation with organic matter enrichment. The FI is a good measure to assess the health of a coral reef and can be applied to other reef ecosystems around Malaysia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aishah Norashikin Abdul A'ziz
- Paleoceaonography Research Interest Group (PoRIG), Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Fatin Izzati Minhat
- Paleoceaonography Research Interest Group (PoRIG), Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia. .,Institute of Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
| | - Hui-Juan Pan
- Institute of Earth Sciences, College of Ocean Science and Resource, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Hasrizal Shaari
- Paleoceaonography Research Interest Group (PoRIG), Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.,Institute of Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Wan Nurzalia Wan Saelan
- Paleoceaonography Research Interest Group (PoRIG), Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.,Institute of Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Nazihah Azmi
- Paleoceaonography Research Interest Group (PoRIG), Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Omar Abdul Rahman Abdul Manaf
- Paleoceaonography Research Interest Group (PoRIG), Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Md Nizam Ismail
- Fisheries Research Institute, 11960, Batu Maung, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
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Raphalo EM, Cole ML, Daniels SR. Climatic oscillations during the Mio/Pliocene epochs induced cladogenesis in the terrestrial snail genus Gittenedouardia (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Cerastidae) from South Africa. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2020; 155:107000. [PMID: 33130297 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2020.107000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
In South Africa, the terrestrial snail genus Gittenedouardia is the most species-rich member of the Cerastidae, where it is primarily distributed in the highly fragmented Afrotemperate and Indian Ocean coastal belt (IOCB) forest biomes. Phylogenetic relationships and cladogenetic events within the genus remain unstudied. In this respect, we reconstructed a dated phylogeny for eight Gittenedouardia species, and two populations identified to genus level using a combined mitochondrial (16S rRNA and COI) DNA sequencing dataset analysed using Bayesian inference and Maximum Likelihood framework. Furthermore, we investigated the population genetic substructure of the three widely distributed species (Gittenedouardia spadicea, G. natalensis and G. arenicola) for the COI locus, while also subsampling these species using the nuclear DNA ITS-2 locus. Phylogenetic results based on the combined mtDNA dataset supported the monophyly of Gittenedouardia and revealed three major clades and deep genetic structure among the three widely distributed species. Divergence-time estimates suggest that diversification within Gittenedouardia occurred during the middle Miocene/late Pliocene, a period characterised by a decrease in precipitation and the contraction of the Afrotemperate and IOCB forest biomes. We used two species delimitation methods, (PTP and STACEY) to infer putative species in G. spadicea, G. natalensis and G. arenicola. The two methods recovered a large number of evolutionary distinct units, with minimal consensus in the exact number of lineages. Our findings suggest the presence of undescribed diversity, necessitating the need for taxonomic revisionary work on Gittenedouardia. We discuss the climatic factors which may have contributed to the observed cladogenesis and compare our results with other studies of forest dwelling faunal taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn M Raphalo
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Aquaculture Research Unit, School of Agricultural and Environmental Science, University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus), Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa.
| | - Mary L Cole
- East London Museum, 319 Oxford Street, East London 5201, South Africa; Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, P. O. Box 94, Makhanda 6140, South Africa.
| | - Savel R Daniels
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
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Trubovitz S, Lazarus D, Renaudie J, Noble PJ. Marine plankton show threshold extinction response to Neogene climate change. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5069. [PMID: 33093493 PMCID: PMC7582175 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18879-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ongoing climate change is predicted to trigger major shifts in the geographic distribution of marine plankton species. However, it remains unclear whether species will successfully track optimal habitats to new regions, or face extinction. Here we show that one significant zooplankton group, the radiolaria, underwent a severe decline in high latitude species richness presaged by ecologic reorganization during the late Neogene, a time of amplified polar cooling. We find that the majority (71%) of affected species did not relocate to the warmer low latitudes, but went extinct. This indicates that some plankton species cannot track optimal temperatures on a global scale as assumed by ecologic models; instead, assemblages undergo restructuring and extinction once local environmental thresholds are exceeded. This pattern forewarns profound diversity loss of high latitude radiolaria in the near future, which may have cascading effects on the ocean food web and carbon cycle. High-latitude records show large diversity losses of marine plankton, such as radiolarians, with historical climate change. Here, Trubovitz et al. present a low-latitude record spanning the last 10 million years, finding that many high-latitude radiolarians did not shift equatorward but instead went extinct.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Trubovitz
- Department of Geological Sciences & Engineering, University of Nevada-Reno, Reno, NV, USA.
| | - David Lazarus
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions-und Biodiversitätsforschung, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Johan Renaudie
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions-und Biodiversitätsforschung, Berlin, Germany
| | - Paula J Noble
- Department of Geological Sciences & Engineering, University of Nevada-Reno, Reno, NV, USA
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Modern Benthic Foraminiferal Diversity: An Initial Insight into the Total Foraminiferal Diversity along the Kuwait Coastal Water. DIVERSITY-BASEL 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/d12040142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Kuwait territorial water hosts an important part of national biodiversity (i.e., zooplankton and phytoplankton), but very limited information exists on the overall diversity of benthic foraminifera. On the basis of the integration of publications, reports and theses with new available data from the Kuwait Bay and the northern islands, this study infers the total benthic foraminiferal diversity within Kuwait territorial water. This new literature survey documents the presence of 451 species belonging to 156 genera, 64 families, 31 superfamilies and 9 orders. These values are relatively high in consideration of the limited extension and the shallow depth of the Kuwait territorial water. Kuwait waters offer a variety of different environments and sub-environments (low salinity/muddy areas in the northern part, embayment, rocky tidal flats, coral reef systems, islands and shelf slope) that all together host largely diversified benthic foraminiferal communities. These figures are herein considered as underestimated because of the grouping of unassigned species due to the lack of reference collections and materials, as well as the neglection of the soft-shell monothalamids (‘allogromiids’).
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8
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Prazeres M, Renema W. Evolutionary significance of the microbial assemblages of large benthic Foraminifera. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2018; 94:828-848. [PMID: 30450723 PMCID: PMC7379505 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Revised: 10/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Large benthic Foraminifera (LBF) are major carbonate producers on coral reefs, and are hosts to a diverse symbiotic microbial community. During warm episodes in the geological past, these reef-building organisms expanded their geographical ranges as subtropical and tropical belts moved into higher latitudes. During these range-expansion periods, LBF were the most prolific carbonate producers on reefs, dominating shallow carbonate platforms over reef-building corals. Even though the fossil and modern distributions of groups of species that harbour different types of symbionts are known, the nature, mechanisms, and factors that influence their occurrence remain elusive. Furthermore, the presence of a diverse and persistent bacterial community has only recently gained attention. We examined recent advances in molecular identification of prokaryotic (i.e. bacteria) and eukaryotic (i.e. microalgae) associates, and palaeoecology, and place the partnership with bacteria and algae in the context of climate change. In critically reviewing the available fossil and modern data on symbiosis, we reveal a crucial role of microalgae in the response of LBF to ocean warming, and their capacity to colonise a variety of habitats, across both latitudes and broad depth ranges. Symbiont identity is a key factor enabling LBF to expand their geographic ranges when the sea-surface temperature increases. Our analyses showed that over the past 66 million years (My), diatom-bearing species were dominant in reef environments. The modern record shows that these species display a stable, persistent eukaryotic assemblage across their geographic distribution range, and are less dependent on symbiotic photosynthesis for survival. By contrast, dinoflagellate and chlorophytic species, which show a provincial distribution, tend to have a more flexible eukaryotic community throughout their range. This group is more dependent on their symbionts, and flexibility in their symbiosis is likely to be the driving force behind their evolutionary history, as they form a monophyletic group originating from a rhodophyte-bearing ancestor. The study of bacterial assemblages, while still in its infancy, is a promising field of study. Bacterial communities are likely to be shaped by the local environment, although a core bacterial microbiome is found in species with global distributions. Cryptic speciation is also an important factor that must be taken into consideration. As global warming intensifies, genetic divergence in hosts in addition to the range of flexibility/specificity within host-symbiont associations will be important elements in the continued evolutionary success of LBF species in a wide range of environments. Based on fossil and modern data, we conclude that the microbiome, which includes both algal and bacterial partners, is a key factor influencing the evolution of LBF. As a result, the microbiome assists LBF in colonising a wide range of habitats, and allowed them to become the most important calcifiers on shallow platforms worldwide during periods of ocean warming in the geologic past. Since LBF are crucial ecosystem engineers and prolific carbonate producers, the microbiome is a critical component that will play a central role in the responses of LBF to a changing ocean, and ultimately in shaping the future of coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Prazeres
- Marine Biodiversity Group, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, 2300 RA, Leiden, 9517, the Netherlands
| | - Willem Renema
- Marine Biodiversity Group, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, 2300 RA, Leiden, 9517, the Netherlands
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9
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Ross BJ, Hallock P. Challenges in using CellTracker Green on foraminifers that host algal endosymbionts. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5304. [PMID: 30186672 PMCID: PMC6119597 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The uses of fluorescent microscopy and fluorescent probes, such as the metabolically activated probe CellTracker™ Green CMFDA (CTG), have become common in studies of living Foraminifera. This metabolic requirement, as well as the relatively quick production of the fluorescent reaction products, makes CTG a prime candidate for determining mortality in bioassay and other laboratory experiments. Previous work with the foraminifer Amphistegina gibbosa, which hosts diatom endosymbionts, has shown that the species is capable of surviving both acute chemical exposure and extended periods of total darkness by entering a low-activity dormant state. This paper explores the use of CTG and fluorescent microscopy to determine mortality in such experiments, as well as to explore the physiology of dormant foraminifers. The application of CTG was found to be complicated by the autofluorescence of the diatom symbionts, which masks the signal of the CTG, as well as by interactions between CTG and propylene glycol, a chemical of interest known to cause dormancy. These complications necessitated adapting methods from earlier studies using CTG. Here we present observations on CTG fluorescence and autofluorescence in A. gibbosa following both chemical exposure and periods of total darkness. While CTG can indicate vital activity in dormant foraminifers, complications include underestimates of total survival and recovery, and falsely indicating dead individuals as live due to rapid microbial colonization. Nonetheless, the brightness of the CTG signal in dormant individuals exposed to propylene glycol supports previously published results of survival patterns in A. gibbosa. Observations of CTG fluorescence in individuals kept for extended periods in aphotic conditions indicate uptake of CTG may begin within 30 min of exposure to light, suggesting darkness-induced dormancy and subsequent recovery can occur on short time scales. These results suggest that CTG accurately reflects changes associated with dormancy, and can be useful in laboratory experiments utilizing symbiont-bearing foraminifers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J Ross
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, United States of America
| | - Pamela Hallock
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, United States of America
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10
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Patterns of species richness and the center of diversity in modern Indo-Pacific larger foraminifera. Sci Rep 2018; 8:8189. [PMID: 29844498 PMCID: PMC5974165 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-26598-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Symbiont-bearing Larger Benthic Foraminifera (LBF) are ubiquitous components of shallow tropical and subtropical environments and contribute substantially to carbonaceous reef and shelf sediments. Climate change is dramatically affecting carbonate producing organisms and threatens the diversity and structural integrity of coral reef ecosystems. Recent invertebrate and vertebrate surveys have identified the Coral Triangle as the planet’s richest center of marine life delineating the region as a top priority for conservation. We compiled and analyzed extensive occurrence records for 68 validly recognized species of LBF from the Indian and Pacific Ocean, established individual range maps and applied Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) and Species Distribution Model (SDM) methodologies to create the first ocean-wide species richness maps. SDM output was further used for visualizing latitudinal and longitudinal diversity gradients. Our findings provide strong support for assigning the tropical Central Indo-Pacific as the world’s species-richest marine region with the Central Philippines emerging as the bullseye of LBF diversity. Sea surface temperature and nutrient content were identified as the most influential environmental constraints exerting control over the distribution of LBF. Our findings contribute to the completion of worldwide research on tropical marine biodiversity patterns and the identification of targeting centers for conservation efforts.
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11
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Erinjery JJ, Kumar S, Kumara HN, Mohan K, Dhananjaya T, Sundararaj P, Kent R, Singh M. Losing its ground: A case study of fast declining populations of a 'least-concern' species, the bonnet macaque (Macaca radiata). PLoS One 2017; 12:e0182140. [PMID: 28832584 PMCID: PMC5568106 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The populations of many species that are widespread and commensal with humans have been drastically declining during the past few decades, but little attention has been paid to their conservation. Here, we report the status of the bonnet macaque, a species that is considered ‘least-concern’ for conservation. We show that the widely ranging rhesus macaque is expanding its range into the distributional range of the bonnet macaque, a species endemic only to southern India. Bonnet macaques have very low abundance in forests of all types indicating that it is not a typically forest dwelling species. The traditionally preferred habitats of bonnet macaques have been Hindu temples/ tourist spots but our data reveal that nearly 50% population of bonnet macaques has disappeared from such previously occupied spots. Another preferred habitat of bonnet macaques has been roadsides with abundant Ficus trees adjoining croplands. We found that between 2003 and 2015, the roadsides have drastically changed where vegetation has been replaced with barren lands and urbanization. Consequently, the populations of bonnet macaques have declined by more than 65% over the past 25 years, and by more than 50% between 2003 and 2015 alone. We, therefore, conclude that this ‘least-concern’ species is actually facing serious conservation challenges. We also identify a few places such as small hillocks with natural vegetation and a few temples/tourist spots which are likely to remain stable and thus can serve as ‘bonnet macaque conservation reserves’. Since the bonnet macaque shares many traits with several other commensal and ‘low-risk’ species, it can serve as a model for the development of long-term conservation strategies for most such species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph J. Erinjery
- Biopsychology Laboratory and Institute of Excellence, University of Mysore, Mysuru, India
- Department of Geography and Environment, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Shanthala Kumar
- Department of Zoology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India
| | - Honnavalli N. Kumara
- Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, India
- * E-mail:
| | - K. Mohan
- Biopsychology Laboratory and Institute of Excellence, University of Mysore, Mysuru, India
| | - Tejeshwar Dhananjaya
- Biopsychology Laboratory and Institute of Excellence, University of Mysore, Mysuru, India
| | - P. Sundararaj
- Department of Zoology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India
| | - Rafi Kent
- Department of Geography and Environment, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Mewa Singh
- Biopsychology Laboratory and Institute of Excellence, University of Mysore, Mysuru, India
- Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, India
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13
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Schmidt C, Morard R, Almogi-Labin A, Weinmann AE, Titelboim D, Abramovich S, Kucera M. Recent Invasion of the Symbiont-Bearing Foraminifera Pararotalia into the Eastern Mediterranean Facilitated by the Ongoing Warming Trend. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0132917. [PMID: 26270964 PMCID: PMC4536047 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2015] [Accepted: 06/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The eastern Mediterranean is a hotspot of biological invasions. Numerous species of Indo-pacific origin have colonized the Mediterranean in recent times, including tropical symbiont-bearing foraminifera. Among these is the species Pararotalia calcariformata. Unlike other invasive foraminifera, this species was discovered only two decades ago and is restricted to the eastern Mediterranean coast. Combining ecological, genetic and physiological observations, we attempt to explain the recent invasion of this species in the Mediterranean Sea. Using morphological and genetic data, we confirm the species attribution to P. calcariformata McCulloch 1977 and identify its symbionts as a consortium of diatom species dominated by Minutocellus polymorphus. We document photosynthetic activity of its endosymbionts using Pulse Amplitude Modulated Fluorometry and test the effects of elevated temperatures on growth rates of asexual offspring. The culturing of asexual offspring for 120 days shows a 30-day period of rapid growth followed by a period of slower growth. A subsequent 48-day temperature sensitivity experiment indicates a similar developmental pathway and high growth rate at 28°C, whereas an almost complete inhibition of growth was observed at 20°C and 35°C. This indicates that the offspring of this species may have lower tolerance to cold temperatures than what would be expected for species native to the Mediterranean. We expand this hypothesis by applying a Species Distribution Model (SDM) based on modern occurrences in the Mediterranean using three environmental variables: irradiance, turbidity and yearly minimum temperature. The model reproduces the observed restricted distribution and indicates that the range of the species will drastically expand westwards under future global change scenarios. We conclude that P. calcariformata established a population in the Levant because of the recent warming in the region. In line with observations from other groups of organisms, our results indicate that continued warming of the eastern Mediterranean will facilitate the invasion of more tropical marine taxa into the Mediterranean, disturbing local biodiversity and ecosystem structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiane Schmidt
- MARUM, Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Raphael Morard
- MARUM, Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | | | - Anna E. Weinmann
- Department of Geology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Steinmann-Institute for Geology, Mineralogy und Paleontology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Danna Titelboim
- Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Sigal Abramovich
- Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Michal Kucera
- MARUM, Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
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Appelqvist C, Al-Hamdani ZK, Jonsson PR, Havenhand JN. Climate envelope modeling and dispersal simulations show little risk of range extension of the Shipworm, Teredo navalis (L.), in the Baltic sea. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0119217. [PMID: 25768305 PMCID: PMC4359003 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0119217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2014] [Accepted: 01/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The shipworm, Teredo navalis, is absent from most of the Baltic Sea. In the last 20 years, increased frequency of T. navalis has been reported along the southern Baltic Sea coasts of Denmark, Germany, and Sweden, indicating possible range-extensions into previously unoccupied areas. We evaluated the effects of historical and projected near-future changes in salinity, temperature, and oxygen on the risk of spread of T. navalis in the Baltic. Specifically, we developed a simple, GIS-based, mechanistic climate envelope model to predict the spatial distribution of favourable conditions for adult reproduction and larval metamorphosis of T. navalis, based on published environmental tolerances to these factors. In addition, we used a high-resolution three-dimensional hydrographic model to simulate the probability of spread of T. navalis larvae within the study area. Climate envelope modeling showed that projected near-future climate change is not likely to change the overall distribution of T. navalis in the region, but will prolong the breeding season and increase the risk of shipworm establishment at the margins of the current range. Dispersal simulations indicated that the majority of larvae were philopatric, but those that spread over a wider area typically spread to areas unfavourable for their survival. Overall, therefore, we found no substantive evidence for climate-change related shifts in the distribution of T. navalis in the Baltic Sea, and no evidence for increased risk of spread in the near-future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christin Appelqvist
- Department of Biological & Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Tjärnö, 452 96 Strömstad, Sweden
| | - Zyad K. Al-Hamdani
- Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Per R. Jonsson
- Department of Biological & Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Tjärnö, 452 96 Strömstad, Sweden
| | - Jon N. Havenhand
- Department of Biological & Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Tjärnö, 452 96 Strömstad, Sweden
- * E-mail:
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15
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Botts EA, Erasmus BFN, Alexander GJ. Observed range dynamics of South African amphibians under conditions of global change. AUSTRAL ECOL 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.12215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emily A. Botts
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences; University of the Witwatersrand; Private Bag 3, WITS 2050 Johannesburg South Africa
| | - Barend F. N. Erasmus
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences; University of the Witwatersrand; Private Bag 3, WITS 2050 Johannesburg South Africa
| | - Graham J. Alexander
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences; University of the Witwatersrand; Private Bag 3, WITS 2050 Johannesburg South Africa
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16
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Norris RD, Turner SK, Hull PM, Ridgwell A. Marine Ecosystem Responses to Cenozoic Global Change. Science 2013; 341:492-8. [DOI: 10.1126/science.1240543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- R. D. Norris
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - S. Kirtland Turner
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - P. M. Hull
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - A. Ridgwell
- School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1SS, UK
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