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Romanova DY, Moroz LL. Parallel evolution of gravity sensing. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1346032. [PMID: 38516131 PMCID: PMC10954788 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1346032] [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: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Omnipresent gravity affects all living organisms; it was a vital factor in the past and the current bottleneck for future space exploration. However, little is known about the evolution of gravity sensing and the comparative biology of gravity reception. Here, by tracing the parallel evolution of gravity sensing, we encounter situations when assemblies of homologous modules result in the emergence of non-homologous structures with similar systemic properties. This is a perfect example to study homoplasy at all levels of biological organization. Apart from numerous practical implementations for bioengineering and astrobiology, the diversity of gravity signaling presents unique reference paradigms to understand hierarchical homology transitions to the convergent evolution of integrative systems. Second, by comparing gravisensory systems in major superclades of basal metazoans (ctenophores, sponges, placozoans, cnidarians, and bilaterians), we illuminate parallel evolution and alternative solutions implemented by basal metazoans toward spatial orientation, focusing on gravitational sensitivity and locomotory integrative systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Y. Romanova
- Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of RAS, Moscow, Russia
| | - Leonid L. Moroz
- Departments of Neuroscience and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, United States
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Strahler Ordering Analyses on Branching Coral Canopies: Stylophora pistillata as a Case Study. JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/jmse10010121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The three-dimensional structural complexities generated by living sessile organisms, such as trees and branching corals, embrace distinct communities of dwelling organisms, many of which are adapted to specific niches within the structure. Thus, characterizing the build-up rules and the canopy compartments may clarify small-scale biodiversity patterns and rules for canopy constituents. While biodiversity within tree canopies is usually typified by the vertical axis that is delineated by its main compartments (understory, trunk, crown), traditional studies of coral canopy dwelling species are evaluated only by viewing the whole coral head as a single homogeneous geometric structure. Here, we employ the Strahler number of a mathematical tree for the numerical measurements of the coral’s canopy complexity. We use the branching Indo-Pacific coral species Stylophora pistillata as a model case, revealing five compartments in the whole coral canopy volume (Understory, Base, Middle, Up, and Bifurcation nods). Then, the coral’s dwellers’ diel distribution patterns were quantified and analyzed. We observed 114 natal colonies, containing 32 dwelling species (11 sessile), totaling 1019 individuals during day observations, and 1359 at night (1–41 individuals/colony). Biodiversity and abundance associated with Strahler numbers, diel richness, abundance, and patterns for compartmental distributions differed significantly between day/night. These results demonstrate that the coral-canopy Strahler number is an applicable new tool for assessing canopy landscapes and canopy associated species biodiversity, including the canopy-compartmental utilization by mobile organisms during day/night and young/adult behaviors.
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Bart MC, de Vet SJ, de Bakker DM, Alexander BE, van Oevelen D, van Loon EE, van Loon JJWA, de Goeij JM. Spiculous skeleton formation in the freshwater sponge Ephydatia fluviatilis under hypergravity conditions. PeerJ 2019; 6:e6055. [PMID: 30631642 PMCID: PMC6322483 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Successful dispersal of freshwater sponges depends on the formation of dormant sponge bodies (gemmules) under adverse conditions. Gemmule formation allows the sponge to overcome critical environmental conditions, for example, desiccation or freezing, and to re-establish as a fully developed sponge when conditions are more favorable. A key process in sponge development from hatched gemmules is the construction of the silica skeleton. Silica spicules form the structural support for the three-dimensional filtration system the sponge uses to filter food particles from ambient water. We studied the effect of different hypergravity forces (1, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 × g for 48 h)—as measure for environmental stress—on the ability of developing sponges to set-up their spiculous skeleton. Additionally, we assessed whether the addition of nutrients (i.e., dissolved 13C- and 15N-labeled amino acids) compensates for this stress. Our results show that freshwater sponges can withstand prolonged periods of hypergravity exposure and successfully set-up their skeleton, even after 48 h under 20 × g. Developing sponges were found to take up and assimilate dissolved food before forming a functional filtering system. However, fed and non-fed sponges showed no differences in skeleton formation and relative surface area growth, suggesting that the gemmules’ intrinsic energy fulfills the processes of skeleton construction. Additionally, non-fed sponges formed oscula significantly more often than fed sponges, especially under higher g-forces. This suggests that the eventual formation of a filtration system might be stimulated by food deprivation and environmentally stressful conditions. These findings indicate that the process of spiculous skeleton formation is energy-efficient and highly resilient. The uptake of dissolved food substances by freshwater sponges may contribute to the cycling of dissolved organic matter in freshwater ecosystems where sponges are abundant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martijn C Bart
- Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sebastiaan J de Vet
- Earth Surface Science, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Taxonomy & Systematics, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Didier M de Bakker
- Microbiology & Biogeochemistry, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research & Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Brittany E Alexander
- Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dick van Oevelen
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research & Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - E Emiel van Loon
- Department of Computational Geo-Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jack J W A van Loon
- Dutch Experiment Support Center, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Oral Pathology, VU University Medical Center & Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA) & European Space Agency Technology Center (ESA-ESTEC), TEC-MMG LIS Lab, Noordwijk, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jasper M de Goeij
- Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Pasquini L, Molinari A, Fantazzini P, Dauphen Y, Cuif JP, Levy O, Dubinsky Z, Caroselli E, Prada F, Goffredo S, Di Giosia M, Reggi M, Falini G. Isotropic microscale mechanical properties of coral skeletons. J R Soc Interface 2015; 12. [PMID: 25977958 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2015.0168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Scleractinian corals are a major source of biogenic calcium carbonate, yet the relationship between their skeletal microstructure and mechanical properties has been scarcely studied. In this work, the skeletons of two coral species:solitary Balanophyllia europaea and colonial Stylophora pistillata, were investigated by nanoindentation. The hardness HIT and Young's modulus E(IT) were determined from the analysis of several load-depth data on two perpendicular sections of the skeletons: longitudinal (parallel to the main growth axis) and transverse. Within the experimental and statistical uncertainty,the average values of the mechanical parameters are independent on the section's orientation. The hydration state of the skeletons did not affect the mechanical properties. The measured values, EIT in the 76-77 GPa range, and H(IT) in the 4.9–5.1 GPa range, are close to the ones expected for polycrystalline pure aragonite. Notably, a small difference in H(IT) is observed between the species. Different from corals, single-crystal aragonite and the nacreous layer of the seashell Atrina rigida exhibit clearly orientation-dependent mechanical properties. The homogeneous and isotropic mechanical behaviour of the coral skeletons at the microscale is correlated with the microstructure,observed by electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy, and with the X-ray diffraction patterns of the longitudinal and transverse sections.
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Flot JF, Blanchot J, Charpy L, Cruaud C, Licuanan WY, Nakano Y, Payri C, Tillier S. Incongruence between morphotypes and genetically delimited species in the coral genus Stylophora: phenotypic plasticity, morphological convergence, morphological stasis or interspecific hybridization? BMC Ecol 2011; 11:22. [PMID: 21970706 PMCID: PMC3269986 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6785-11-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2011] [Accepted: 10/04/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Morphological data suggest that, unlike most other groups of marine organisms, scleractinian corals of the genus Stylophora are more diverse in the western Indian Ocean and in the Red Sea than in the central Indo-Pacific. However, the morphology of corals is often a poor predictor of their actual biodiversity: hence, we conducted a genetic survey of Stylophora corals collected in Madagascar, Okinawa, the Philippines and New Caledonia in an attempt to find out the true number of species in these various locations. RESULTS A molecular phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial ORF and putative control region concurs with a haploweb analysis of nuclear ITS2 sequences in delimiting three species among our dataset: species A and B are found in Madagascar whereas species C occurs in Okinawa, the Philippines and New Caledonia. Comparison of ITS1 sequences from these three species with data available online suggests that species C is also found on the Great Barrier Reef, in Malaysia, in the South China Sea and in Taiwan, and that a distinct species D occurs in the Red Sea. Shallow-water morphs of species A correspond to the morphological description of Stylophora madagascarensis, species B presents the morphology of Stylophora mordax, whereas species C comprises various morphotypes including Stylophora pistillata and Stylophora mordax. CONCLUSIONS Genetic analysis of the coral genus Stylophora reveals species boundaries that are not congruent with morphological traits. Of the four hypotheses that may explain such discrepancy (phenotypic plasticity, morphological stasis, morphological convergence, and interspecific hybridization), the first two appear likely to play a role but the fourth one is rejected since mitochondrial and nuclear markers yield congruent species delimitations. The position of the root in our molecular phylogenies suggests that the center of origin of Stylophora is located in the western Indian Ocean, which probably explains why this genus presents a higher biodiversity in the westernmost part of its area of distribution than in the "Coral Triangle".
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-François Flot
- Courant Research Center "Geobiology", University of Göttingen, Goldschmidtstraße 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- CEA-Institut de Génomique, GENOSCOPE, Centre National de Séquençage, 2 rue Gaston Crémieux, CP5706, 91057 Evry Cedex, France
- UMR UPMC-CNRS-MNHN-IRD 7138, Département Systématique et Évolution, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Case Postale 26, 57 rue Cuvier, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
- URBO, Department of Biology, University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelle 61, 5000 Namur, Belgium
| | - Jean Blanchot
- UMR LOBP, Centre d'Océanologie de Marseille, Campus de Luminy, Case 901, 13288 Marseille Cedex 09, France
| | - Loïc Charpy
- UMR LOBP, Centre IRD de Tahiti, BP 529, 98713 Papeete, French Polynesia
| | - Corinne Cruaud
- CEA-Institut de Génomique, GENOSCOPE, Centre National de Séquençage, 2 rue Gaston Crémieux, CP5706, 91057 Evry Cedex, France
| | - Wilfredo Y Licuanan
- Br. Alfred Shields FSC Marine Station and Biology Department, De La Salle University, Manila 1004, Philippines
| | - Yoshikatsu Nakano
- Sesoko Station, Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 3422, Japan
| | - Claude Payri
- UR COREUS, IRD, B.P. A5, 98848 Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - Simon Tillier
- UMR UPMC-CNRS-MNHN-IRD 7138, Département Systématique et Évolution, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Case Postale 26, 57 rue Cuvier, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
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Shaish L, Rinkevich B. Critical evaluation of branch polarity and apical dominance as dictators of colony astogeny in a branching coral. PLoS One 2009; 4:e4095. [PMID: 19119311 PMCID: PMC2605567 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0004095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2008] [Accepted: 12/02/2008] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The high morphological resemblance between branching corals and trees, can lead to comparative studies on pattern formation traits, best exemplified in plants and in some cnidarians. Here, 81 branches of similar size of the hermatypic coral Stylophora pistillata were lopped of three different genets, their skeletons marked with alizarin red-S, and divided haphazardly into three morphometric treatment groups: (I) upright position; (II) horizontal position, intact tip; and (III) horizontal position, cut tip. After 1 y of in-situ growth, the 45 surviving ramets were brought to the laboratory, their tissues removed and their architectures analyzed by 22 morphological parameters (MPs). We found that within 1 y, isolated branches developed into small coral colonies by growing new branches from all branch termini, in all directions. No architectural dissimilarity was assigned among the three studied genets of treatment I colonies. However, a major architectural disparity between treatment I colonies and colonies of treatments II and III was documented as the development of mirror structures from both sides of treatments II and III settings as compared to tip-borne architectures in treatment I colonies. We did not observe apical dominance since fragments grew equally from all branch sides without documented dominant polarity along branch axis. In treatment II colonies, no MP for new branches originating either from tips or from branch bases differed significantly. In treatment III colonies, growth from the cut tip areas was significantly lower compared to the base, again, suggesting lack of apical dominance in this species. Changes in branch polarity revealed genet associated plasticity, which in one of the studied genets, led to enhanced growth. Different genets exhibited canalization flexibility of growth patterns towards either lateral growth, or branch axis extension (skeletal weight and not porosity was measured). This study revealed that colony astogeny in S. pistillata is a regulated process expressed through programmed events and not directly related to simple energy trade-off principles or to environmental conditions, and that branch polarity and apical dominance do not dictate colony astogeny. Therefore, plasticity and astogenic disparities encompass a diversity of genetic (fixed and flexible) induced responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee Shaish
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Tel Shikmona, Haifa, Israel
| | - Baruch Rinkevich
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Tel Shikmona, Haifa, Israel
- * E-mail:
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter A Todd
- Marine Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Blk S1, 02-05, Singapore 117543.
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Prada C, Schizas NV, Yoshioka PM. Phenotypic plasticity or speciation? A case from a clonal marine organism. BMC Evol Biol 2008; 8:47. [PMID: 18271961 PMCID: PMC2275222 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-8-47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2007] [Accepted: 02/13/2008] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clonal marine organisms exhibit high levels of morphological variation. Morphological differences may be a response to environmental factors but also they can be attributed to accumulated genetic differences due to disruption of gene flow among populations. In this study, we examined the extensive morphological variation (of 14 characters) in natural populations observed in the gorgonian Eunicea flexuosa, a widely distributed Caribbean octocoral. Eco-phenotypic and genetic effects were evaluated by reciprocal transplants of colonies inhabiting opposite ends of the depth gradient and analysis of population genetics of mitochondrial and nuclear genes, respectively. RESULTS Significant differences (P < 0.001) in 14 morphological traits were found among colonies inhabiting 12 locations distributed in seven reefs in southwest Puerto Rico. Results from principal component analysis indicated the presence of two groups based on depth distribution, suggesting the presence of two discrete morphotypes (i.e. shallow type < 5 m and deep type > 17 m). A discriminant function analysis based on a priori univariate and multivariate analyses (which separated the colonies in morphotypes) correctly classified 93% of the colonies for each environment. Light, water motion and sediment transport might influence the distribution of the two morphotypes. Reaction norms of morphological characters of colonies reciprocally transplanted showed gradual significant changes through the 15 months of transplantation. Sclerites of shallow water colonies became larger when transplanted to deeper environments and vice versa, but neither of the two transplanted groups overlapped with the residents' morphology. Genetic analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear genes suggested that such discrete morphology and non-overlapping phenotypic plasticity is correlated with the presence of two independent evolutionary lineages. The distribution of the lineages is non-random and may be related to adaptational responses of each lineage to the environmental demands of each habitat. CONCLUSION The extensive distribution and ample morphological variation of Eunicea flexuosa corresponds to two distinct genetic lineages with narrower distributions and more rigid phenotypic plasticity than the original description. The accepted description sensu Bayer (1961) of E. flexuosa is a complex of at least two distinct genetic lineages, adapted to different habitats and do not exchange genetic material despite living in sympatry. The present study highlights the importance of correctly defining species, because the unknowingly use of species complexes can overestimate geographical distribution, population abundance, and physiological tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Prada
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez, Isla Magueyes Laboratories, P.O. Box 908, Lajas, PR 00667, USA
| | - Nikolaos V Schizas
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez, Isla Magueyes Laboratories, P.O. Box 908, Lajas, PR 00667, USA
| | - Paul M Yoshioka
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez, Isla Magueyes Laboratories, P.O. Box 908, Lajas, PR 00667, USA
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Flot JF, Magalon H, Cruaud C, Couloux A, Tillier S. Patterns of genetic structure among Hawaiian corals of the genus Pocillopora yield clusters of individuals that are compatible with morphology. C R Biol 2008; 331:239-47. [PMID: 18280989 DOI: 10.1016/j.crvi.2007.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2007] [Revised: 12/07/2007] [Accepted: 12/10/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Six variable sequence markers are developed and analyzed to find out species boundaries in Hawaiian corals of the genus Pocillopora: the putative mitochondrial control region; a recently discovered, hypervariable mitochondrial open reading frame; the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2), located in the nuclear ribosomal DNA; three nuclear introns of calmodulin, elongation factor-1alpha and the ATP synthase beta subunit. Using the first two markers, we identify five distinct mitochondrial lineages and these lineages are compatible with morphology. The situation is more complex with nuclear markers since more than two haplotypes are observed in some individuals. To detect clusters of individuals, haplotype networks are constructed with additional connections drawn between co-occurring haplotypes to delineate potential fields for recombination: few clusters of nuclear haplotypes are found to correspond to clusters of individuals, but those that are detected (mostly in the ITS2 dataset) are also compatible with morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-François Flot
- UMR UPMC-CNRS-MNHN-IRD 7138, département Systématique et évolution, Muséum national d'histoire naturelle, CP 26, 57, rue Cuvier, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France.
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Merks RMH, Hoekstra AG, Kaandorp JA, Sloot PMA. Polyp oriented modelling of coral growth. J Theor Biol 2004; 228:559-76. [PMID: 15178203 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2004.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2002] [Revised: 02/05/2004] [Accepted: 02/18/2004] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The morphogenesis of colonial stony corals is the result of the collective behaviour of many coral polyps depositing coral skeleton on top of the old skeleton on which they live. Yet, models of coral growth often consider the polyps as a single continuous surface. In the present work, the polyps are modelled individually. Each polyp takes up resources, deposits skeleton, buds off new polyps and dies. In this polyp oriented model, spontaneous branching occurs. We argue that branching is caused by a so called "polyp fanning effect" by which polyps on a convex surface have a competitive advantage relative to polyps on a flat or concave surface. The fanning effect generates a more potent branching mechanism than the Laplacian growth mechanism that we have studied previously. We discuss the application of the polyp oriented model to the study of environmentally driven morphological plasticity in stony corals. In a few examples we show how the properties of the individual polyps influence the whole colony morphology. In our model, the spacing of polyps influences the thickness of coral branches and the overall compactness of the colony. Density variations in the coral skeleton may also be important for the whole colony morphology, which we address by studying two variants of the model. Finally, we discuss the importance of small scale resource translocation in the coral colony and its effects on the morphology of the colony.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roeland M H Merks
- Faculty of Science, Section Computational Science, University of Amsterdam, Kruislaan 403, 1098 SJ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Abstract
Tropical reefs are among the most diverse ecosystems. Corals, as the most prominent members and framework builders of these communities, deserve special attention, especially in light of the recent decline of coral reefs worldwide. The diversity of corals at various levels has been the subject of many studies, and has traditionally been investigated using morphological characters. This approach has proved insufficient, owing to several ecological and life-history traits of corals. The use of molecular/biochemical approaches has been propelling this discipline forward at an ever-increasing rate for the past decade or so. Reticulate evolution in corals, which has challenged traditional views on the ecology, evolution, and biodiversity of these organisms, is only one example of the results of molecular studies supporting the development of new concepts. We review recent literature reporting studies of the biodiversity, ecology, and evolution of corals in which molecular methods have been employed. We anticipate that in the coming years, an increasing number of studies in molecular biology will generate new and exciting ideas regarding the biology of corals.
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