DOCSLIB.ORG

Persistence of Corals in Marginal Habitats: the Role of the Environment, and Symbiont Diversity and Ecophysiology

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Persistence of Corals in Marginal Habitats: the Role of the Environment, and Symbiont Diversity and Ecophysiology Persistence of corals in marginal habitats: the role of the environment, and symbiont diversity and ecophysiology Laura Caroline Wicks A thesis submitted to Victoria University of Wellington in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Science 2009 Abstract Abstract Many corals live in marginal habitats, close to their survival thresholds of water temperature, light penetration and aragonite saturation. Living under these highly variable and extreme conditions is likely facilitated by specific physiological adaptations and/or the presence of unique species of coral and their symbionts but data on these factors are limited. The specific objectives of the study were to: (1) examine the diversity and distribution patterns of corals in marginal environments, (2) investigate the diversity, distribution patterns and host specificity of symbionts in corals in marginal environments, (3) assess the influence of environmental variables on host and symbiont distribution in marginal environments, in comparison to ‘optimal’ environments, and (4) examine the physiological responses to changing environmental conditions and stress of corals and their symbionts in marginal environments. Surveys of coral community patterns were conducted at the Kermadec Islands (KI), New Zealand, and Palmyra Atoll, USA, with local scale environmental parameters (i.e. wave exposure and sedimentation) found to control the diversity and distribution of the coral communities. Symbiodinium types were identified to sub- cladal level in a range of coral species at each of the survey sites, using ITS2-DGGE. A high diversity of C type symbionts (19 types in 13 host genera), and reduced host specificity was observed at the high latitude site of Lord Howe Island (LHI), Australia, with similarly high diversity at the KI (10 types in 9 genera). Thirteen novel clade C types were identified in corals at LHI, with two of these types also present in hosts at the KI. The reduced host specificity of symbionts at LHI, II Abstract compared to tropical sites, implies that the evolution of novel holobionts may be an important mechanism whereby corals can cope with variable and stressful conditions. Further, physiological assessment of the novel LHI symbionts led to the suggestion that Symbiodinium at LHI may be specialised for cooler and more variable temperatures, so contributing to the success of corals at this marginal location. In contrast, a low diversity of generalist symbionts (C and D types) were uncovered at the equatorial site of Palmyra Atoll (10 types in 13 genera), attributed to the stressful environmental regime resulting in a reduced population of stress- tolerant symbionts. The variation in environmental parameters, particularly sedimentation, around Palmyra Atoll has led to diversification of coral communities, however this environmental variation has not affected the symbiont communities. While it has been suggested that marginal coral communities might be better adapted for survival in an environment modified by global climate change, the local scale environmental factors are also important drivers of both coral and symbiont distributions, and should be considered when making predictions for the future. Further, assessment of the physiological tolerance ranges of both the multiple, novel symbionts at high latitudes, and the few, potentially stress-tolerant symbionts at Palmyra should be conducted, to help determine whether they have the ability to adjust to new environmental conditions. III Contributions Contributions and publications This thesis is written as a series of manuscripts, which are in the review process or to be submitted in the near future. All field-work, lab-work and writing were conducted by the Author, with expections as below. Chapter 2 This chapter has been submitted for publication to the Marine Ecology Progress Series, and is in review. Sample collection was undertaken by JPA Gardner and J Long, of Victoria University of Wellington. Chapter 3 The molecular work in this chapter was assisted by Dr Eugenia Sampayo, of The University of Queensland. Figure 3.3 was designed by Dr Sampayo, and made editorial comments on the text. Chapter 5 The design and implementation of this study was aided by Dr Ross Hill of The University of Technology, Sydney. Dr Hill also made editorial comments on the text II Acknowledgements Acknowledgements There are many people that I would like to thank for their invaluable support, both academically and personally, that made the completion of this thesis possible. I would like to thank everyone that has aided me in this journey; if I have forgotten anyone I apologise. Foremost, I would like to thank my supervisor Dr Simon Davy for his continual support and insightful suggestions in the last three and a half years. Simon was always there to listen and give feedback, despite his busy schedule, and this thesis would not have existed without him. I would also like to thank my second supervisor Dr Jonathan Gardner, who not only was there with help and support when required, but also gave me the amazing opportunity to conduct research at Palmyra Atoll, an indescribable experience. I am also grateful to the collaborators on two of my projects, Dr Eugenia Sampayo and Dr Ross Hill, and their supervisors, Prof Ove Hoegh-Guldberg and Dr Peter Ralph for allowing me to work in their labs and monopolise their post-docs’ time. Additionally, I am indebted to all the people who lent me support and expertise in the lab, namely Dr Tyrone Ridgway, Dr Jo Zuccarello. Dr Ann Wood, Kristen Westfall, and Pelayo Salinas de Leon. I wish to thank my lab group, for both their support and the constant reminder that, although my lab-work was testing at the best of times, I could have been cleaning anemones! In particular, for their kind assistance with fieldwork, I wish to thank Dr Jo Davy, Dan Logan and Gareth Williams. Additional thanks goes to Gareth for his stats advice and expertise, and his true gentlemanly behaviour in the face of a tiger shark. III Acknowledgements Many people outside VUW assisted with the fieldwork component of my studies. For their contribution to my Lord Howe Island work, thanks go to Ian Kerr and Sallyann Gudge of Lord Howe Island Marine Parks Authority, Tas Douglass, Lauren Gatherer, Brian ‘Busty’ Busteed, Dr Peter Harrison and Dr Carden Wallace. For field assistance at Palmyra Atoll, I thank the staff of The Nature Conservancy, particularly Roseanne for her quick thinking in the tiger shark episode. For permits I wish to thank NSW Marine Parks Authority, US Fish and Wildlife Services, and the Department of Conservation, New Zealand. For funding, I acknowledge the Commonwealth Scholarship scheme, New Zealand Postgraduate Study Abroad, Project Aware, Australian Geographic, the British Ecological Society, and finally Victoria University of Wellington for their research funding, faculty grant and submission scholarship. During my PhD, I have appreciated the presence of many good friends, in particular Anna Smith who shared with me the ups and downs, and many bottles of wine. I also wish to thank Jade Berman, Emily Dicks and the rest of my office buddies, for their support through the hard times, and fun times beside. Jessie and Peter Bakker receive special thanks for providing me with a happy home on multiple occasions, with many memorable nights out and in. The writing up period was always going to be a challenge, but Chrissie and Brian Stuart-Nairne made the experience an enjoyable one, giving me a home in beautiful surroundings, and thus enabling me to keep my sanity at the same time as writing my thesis. I have to mention the mischievous antics of their Goldies, Bobby and Madge; Bobby especially made me laugh on more occasions than I thought possible during my PhD. IV Acknowledgements Lastly, and most importantly I need to thank the people to whom I dedicate this thesis, my parents and sisters, and Brett. Thank you mum and dad, not only for your financial support in times of crisis (and non-crisis!), but mainly for your emotional support and your faith in me over these long years. Despite the time difference, those weekly phone calls from home, and sporadic texts from Soph made me feel part of a wonderful family, even at such a distance. And finally to my partner Brett, I owe the greatest thanks. It cannot have been easy to have a girlfriend in a different country, let alone one doing a PhD, but you stuck with me through the hard times, made me smile when times were bad, and I am looking forward to all the good times yet to come. V List of Figures Table of contents Abstract II Contributions and publications II Acknowledgements III Table of contents VI List of Figures XI List of Tables XIV List of abbreviations XVI Glossary of terms XVIII Chapter 1 - 1 - General Introduction - 1 - 1.1 Corals and symbiosis - 1 - 1.2 Genetic diversity of Symbiodinium - 4 - 1.3 Host-symbiont specificity and flexibility - 9 - 1.4 Biogeographic and ecological variability of Cnidarian-Symbiodinium partnerships - 12 - 1.5 Physiological variability and susceptibility to environmental stress - 14 - 1.6 Photophysiology of Symbiodinium - 17 - 1.7 Corals in marginal environments - 20 - 1.8 Symbiodinium in marginal environments - 25 - 1.9 Objectives - 26 - VI List of Figures Chapter 2 - 30 - Spatial patterns and regional affinities of coral communities at the Kermadec Islands Marine Reserve (New Zealand), a marginal high-latitude site - 30 - ABSTRACT - 30 - 2.1 INTRODUCTION - 31 - 2.2 Materials and Methods - 35 - 2.2.1 Study area - 35 - 2.2.2 Sampling - 35 - 2.2.3 Regional affinities - 37 - 2.2.4 Data analysis - 38 - Kermadec Islands - 38 - Regional affinities - 39 - 2.3 RESULTS - 40 - 2.3.1 Kermadec Islands - 40 - 2.3.2 Regional affinities - 45 - 2.4. DISCUSSION - 49 - 2.4.1 Kermadec Islands - 49 - 2.4.2.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • (Symbiodinium) in Scleractinian Corals from Tropical Reefs in Southern Hainan
    Journal of Systematics and Evolution 49 (6): 598–605 (2011) doi: 10.1111/j.1759-6831.2011.00161.x Research Article Low genetic diversity of symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium) in scleractinian corals from tropical reefs in southern Hainan Island, China 1,2Guo-Wei ZHOU 1,2Hui HUANG∗ 1(Key Laboratory of Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China) 2(Tropical Marine Biological Research Station in Hainan, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572000, China) Abstract Endosymbiotic dinoflagellates in the genus Symbiodinium are among the most abundant and important group of photosynthetic protists found in coral reef ecosystems. In order to further characterize this diversity and compare with other regions of the Pacific, samples from 44 species of scleractinian corals representing 20 genera and 9 families, were collected from tropical reefs in southern Hainan Island, China. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis fingerprinting of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 identified 11 genetically distinct Symbiodinium types that have been reported previously. The majority of reef-building coral species (88.6%) harbored only one subcladal type of symbiont, dominated by host-generalist C1 and C3, and was influenced little by the host’s apparent mode of symbiont acquisition. Some species harbored more than one clade of Symbiodinium (clades C, D) concurrently. Although geographically isolated from the rest of the Pacific, the symbiont diversity in southern Hainan Island was relatively low and similar to both the Great Barrier Reef and Hawaii symbiont assemblages (dominated by clade C Symbiodinium). These results indicate that a specialist symbiont is not a prerequisite for existence in remote and isolated areas, but additional work in other geographic regions is necessary to test this idea.
    [Show full text]
  • Patterns in Marine Community Assemblages on Continental Margins: a Faunal and Floral Synthesis from Northern Western Australian Atolls
    Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, 94: 267–284, 2011 Patterns in marine community assemblages on continental margins: a faunal and floral synthesis from northern Western Australian atolls A Sampey 1 & J Fromont 2 1 Aquatic Zoology, Western Australian Museum, Locked Bag 49, Welshpool DC, WA 6986 [email protected] 2 Aquatic Zoology, Western Australian Museum, Locked Bag 49, Welshpool DC, WA 6986 [email protected] Manuscript received November 2010; accepted January 2011 Abstract Corals and fishes are the most visually apparent fauna on coral reefs and the most often monitored groups to detect change. In comparison, data on noncoral benthic invertebrates and marine plants is sparse. Whether patterns in diversity and distribution for other taxonomic groups align with those detected in corals and fishes is largely unknown. Four shelf-edge atolls in the Kimberley region of Western Australia were surveyed for marine plants, sponges, scleractinian corals, crustaceans, molluscs, echinoderms and fishes in 2006, with a consequent 1521 species reported. Here, we provide the first community level assessment of the biodiversity of these atolls based on these taxonomic groups. Four habitats were surveyed and each was found to have a characteristic community assemblage. Different species assemblages were found among atolls and within each habitat, particularly in the lagoon and reef flat environments. In some habitats we found the common taxa groups (fishes and corals) provide adequate information for community assemblages, but in other cases, for example in the intertidal reef flats, these commonly targeted groups are far less useful in reflecting overall community patterns.
    [Show full text]
  • Checklist of Fish and Invertebrates Listed in the CITES Appendices
    JOINTS NATURE \=^ CONSERVATION COMMITTEE Checklist of fish and mvertebrates Usted in the CITES appendices JNCC REPORT (SSN0963-«OStl JOINT NATURE CONSERVATION COMMITTEE Report distribution Report Number: No. 238 Contract Number/JNCC project number: F7 1-12-332 Date received: 9 June 1995 Report tide: Checklist of fish and invertebrates listed in the CITES appendices Contract tide: Revised Checklists of CITES species database Contractor: World Conservation Monitoring Centre 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 ODL Comments: A further fish and invertebrate edition in the Checklist series begun by NCC in 1979, revised and brought up to date with current CITES listings Restrictions: Distribution: JNCC report collection 2 copies Nature Conservancy Council for England, HQ, Library 1 copy Scottish Natural Heritage, HQ, Library 1 copy Countryside Council for Wales, HQ, Library 1 copy A T Smail, Copyright Libraries Agent, 100 Euston Road, London, NWl 2HQ 5 copies British Library, Legal Deposit Office, Boston Spa, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, LS23 7BQ 1 copy Chadwick-Healey Ltd, Cambridge Place, Cambridge, CB2 INR 1 copy BIOSIS UK, Garforth House, 54 Michlegate, York, YOl ILF 1 copy CITES Management and Scientific Authorities of EC Member States total 30 copies CITES Authorities, UK Dependencies total 13 copies CITES Secretariat 5 copies CITES Animals Committee chairman 1 copy European Commission DG Xl/D/2 1 copy World Conservation Monitoring Centre 20 copies TRAFFIC International 5 copies Animal Quarantine Station, Heathrow 1 copy Department of the Environment (GWD) 5 copies Foreign & Commonwealth Office (ESED) 1 copy HM Customs & Excise 3 copies M Bradley Taylor (ACPO) 1 copy ^\(\\ Joint Nature Conservation Committee Report No.
    [Show full text]
  • Taxonomic Checklist of CITES Listed Coral Species Part II
    CoP16 Doc. 43.1 (Rev. 1) Annex 5.2 (English only / Únicamente en inglés / Seulement en anglais) Taxonomic Checklist of CITES listed Coral Species Part II CORAL SPECIES AND SYNONYMS CURRENTLY RECOGNIZED IN THE UNEP‐WCMC DATABASE 1. Scleractinia families Family Name Accepted Name Species Author Nomenclature Reference Synonyms ACROPORIDAE Acropora abrolhosensis Veron, 1985 Veron (2000) Madrepora crassa Milne Edwards & Haime, 1860; ACROPORIDAE Acropora abrotanoides (Lamarck, 1816) Veron (2000) Madrepora abrotanoides Lamarck, 1816; Acropora mangarevensis Vaughan, 1906 ACROPORIDAE Acropora aculeus (Dana, 1846) Veron (2000) Madrepora aculeus Dana, 1846 Madrepora acuminata Verrill, 1864; Madrepora diffusa ACROPORIDAE Acropora acuminata (Verrill, 1864) Veron (2000) Verrill, 1864; Acropora diffusa (Verrill, 1864); Madrepora nigra Brook, 1892 ACROPORIDAE Acropora akajimensis Veron, 1990 Veron (2000) Madrepora coronata Brook, 1892; Madrepora ACROPORIDAE Acropora anthocercis (Brook, 1893) Veron (2000) anthocercis Brook, 1893 ACROPORIDAE Acropora arabensis Hodgson & Carpenter, 1995 Veron (2000) Madrepora aspera Dana, 1846; Acropora cribripora (Dana, 1846); Madrepora cribripora Dana, 1846; Acropora manni (Quelch, 1886); Madrepora manni ACROPORIDAE Acropora aspera (Dana, 1846) Veron (2000) Quelch, 1886; Acropora hebes (Dana, 1846); Madrepora hebes Dana, 1846; Acropora yaeyamaensis Eguchi & Shirai, 1977 ACROPORIDAE Acropora austera (Dana, 1846) Veron (2000) Madrepora austera Dana, 1846 ACROPORIDAE Acropora awi Wallace & Wolstenholme, 1998 Veron (2000) ACROPORIDAE Acropora azurea Veron & Wallace, 1984 Veron (2000) ACROPORIDAE Acropora batunai Wallace, 1997 Veron (2000) ACROPORIDAE Acropora bifurcata Nemenzo, 1971 Veron (2000) ACROPORIDAE Acropora branchi Riegl, 1995 Veron (2000) Madrepora brueggemanni Brook, 1891; Isopora ACROPORIDAE Acropora brueggemanni (Brook, 1891) Veron (2000) brueggemanni (Brook, 1891) ACROPORIDAE Acropora bushyensis Veron & Wallace, 1984 Veron (2000) Acropora fasciculare Latypov, 1992 ACROPORIDAE Acropora cardenae Wells, 1985 Veron (2000) CoP16 Doc.
    [Show full text]
  • Marine Biodiversity Survey of Mermaid Reef (Rowley Shoals), Scott and Seringapatam Reef Western Australia 2006 Edited by Clay Bryce
    ISBN 978-1-920843-50-2 ISSN 0313 122X Scott and Seringapatam Reef. Western Australia Marine Biodiversity Survey of Mermaid Reef (Rowley Shoals), Marine Biodiversity Survey of Mermaid Reef (Rowley Shoals), Scott and Seringapatam Reef Western Australia 2006 2006 Edited by Clay Bryce Edited by Clay Bryce Suppl. No. Records of the Western Australian Museum 77 Supplement No. 77 Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement No. 77 Marine Biodiversity Survey of Mermaid Reef (Rowley Shoals), Scott and Seringapatam Reef Western Australia 2006 Edited by Clay Bryce Records of the Western Australian Museum The Records of the Western Australian Museum publishes the results of research into all branches of natural sciences and social and cultural history, primarily based on the collections of the Western Australian Museum and on research carried out by its staff members. Collections and research at the Western Australian Museum are centred on Earth and Planetary Sciences, Zoology, Anthropology and History. In particular the following areas are covered: systematics, ecology, biogeography and evolution of living and fossil organisms; mineralogy; meteoritics; anthropology and archaeology; history; maritime archaeology; and conservation. Western Australian Museum Perth Cultural Centre, James Street, Perth, Western Australia, 6000 Mail: Locked Bag 49, Welshpool DC, Western Australia 6986 Telephone: (08) 9212 3700 Facsimile: (08) 9212 3882 Email: [email protected] Minister for Culture and The Arts The Hon. John Day BSc, BDSc, MLA Chair of Trustees Mr Tim Ungar BEc, MAICD, FAIM Acting Executive Director Ms Diana Jones MSc, BSc, Dip.Ed Editors Dr Mark Harvey BSC, PhD Dr Paul Doughty BSc(Hons), PhD Editorial Board Dr Alex Baynes MA, PhD Dr Alex Bevan BSc(Hons), PhD Ms Ann Delroy BA(Hons), MPhil Dr Bill Humphreys BSc(Hons), PhD Dr Moya Smith BA(Hons), Dip.Ed.
    [Show full text]
  • Composition and Ecology of Deep-Water Coral Associations D
    HELGOLK---~DER MEERESUNTERSUCHUNGEN Helgoltinder Meeresunters. 36, 183-204 (1983) Composition and ecology of deep-water coral associations D. H. H. Kfihlmann Museum ffir Naturkunde, Humboldt-Universit~t Berlin; Invalidenstr. 43, DDR- 1040 Berlin, German Democratic Republic ABSTRACT: Between 1966 and 1978 SCUBA investigations were carried out in French Polynesia, the Red Sea, and the Caribbean, at depths down to 70 m. Although there are fewer coral species in the Caribbean, the abundance of Scleractinia in deep-water associations below 20 m almost equals that in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The assemblages of corals living there are described and defined as deep-water coral associations. They are characterized by large, flattened growth forms. Only 6 to 7 % of the species occur exclusively below 20 m. More than 90 % of the corals recorded in deep waters also live in shallow regions. Depth-related illumination is not responsible for depth differentiations of coral associations, but very likely, a complex of mechanical factors, such as hydrodynamic conditions, substrate conditions, sedimentation etc. However, light intensity deter- mines the general distribution of hermatypic Scleractinia in their bathymetric range as well as the platelike shape of coral colonies characteristic for deep water associations. Depending on mechani- cal factors, Leptoseris, Montipora, Porites and Pachyseris dominate as characteristic genera in the Central Pacific Ocean, Podabacia, Leptoseris, Pachyseris and Coscinarea in the Red Sea, Agaricia and Leptoseris in the tropical western Atlantic Ocean. INTRODUCTION Considerable attention has been paid to shallow-water coral associations since the first half of this century (Duerden, 1902; Mayer, 1918; Umbgrove, 1939). Detailed investigations at depths down to 20 m became possible only through the use of autono- mous diving apparatus.
    [Show full text]
  • Scleractinian Reef Corals: Identification Notes
    SCLERACTINIAN REEF CORALS: IDENTIFICATION NOTES By JACKIE WOLSTENHOLME James Cook University AUGUST 2004 DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.24656.51205 http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.24656.51205 Scleractinian Reef Corals: Identification Notes by Jackie Wolstenholme is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................................................ i INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................. 1 ABBREVIATIONS AND DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................................. 2 FAMILY ACROPORIDAE.................................................................................................................................... 3 Montipora ........................................................................................................................................................... 3 Massive/thick plates/encrusting & tuberculae/papillae ................................................................................... 3 Montipora monasteriata .............................................................................................................................. 3 Massive/thick plates/encrusting & papillae ...................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Pleistocene Reefs of the Egyptian Red Sea: Environmental Change and Community Persistence
    Pleistocene reefs of the Egyptian Red Sea: environmental change and community persistence Lorraine R. Casazza School of Science and Engineering, Al Akhawayn University, Ifrane, Morocco ABSTRACT The fossil record of Red Sea fringing reefs provides an opportunity to study the history of coral-reef survival and recovery in the context of extreme environmental change. The Middle Pleistocene, the Late Pleistocene, and modern reefs represent three periods of reef growth separated by glacial low stands during which conditions became difficult for symbiotic reef fauna. Coral diversity and paleoenvironments of eight Middle and Late Pleistocene fossil terraces are described and characterized here. Pleistocene reef zones closely resemble reef zones of the modern Red Sea. All but one species identified from Middle and Late Pleistocene outcrops are also found on modern Red Sea reefs despite the possible extinction of most coral over two-thirds of the Red Sea basin during glacial low stands. Refugia in the Gulf of Aqaba and southern Red Sea may have allowed for the persistence of coral communities across glaciation events. Stability of coral communities across these extreme climate events indicates that even small populations of survivors can repopulate large areas given appropriate water conditions and time. Subjects Biodiversity, Biogeography, Ecology, Marine Biology, Paleontology Keywords Coral reefs, Egypt, Climate change, Fossil reefs, Scleractinia, Cenozoic, Western Indian Ocean Submitted 23 September 2016 INTRODUCTION Accepted 2 June 2017 Coral reefs worldwide are threatened by habitat degradation due to coastal development, 28 June 2017 Published pollution run-off from land, destructive fishing practices, and rising ocean temperature Corresponding author and acidification resulting from anthropogenic climate change (Wilkinson, 2008; Lorraine R.
    [Show full text]
  • Volume 2. Animals
    AC20 Doc. 8.5 Annex (English only/Seulement en anglais/Únicamente en inglés) REVIEW OF SIGNIFICANT TRADE ANALYSIS OF TRADE TRENDS WITH NOTES ON THE CONSERVATION STATUS OF SELECTED SPECIES Volume 2. Animals Prepared for the CITES Animals Committee, CITES Secretariat by the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre JANUARY 2004 AC20 Doc. 8.5 – p. 3 Prepared and produced by: UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK UNEP WORLD CONSERVATION MONITORING CENTRE (UNEP-WCMC) www.unep-wcmc.org The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre is the biodiversity assessment and policy implementation arm of the United Nations Environment Programme, the world’s foremost intergovernmental environmental organisation. UNEP-WCMC aims to help decision-makers recognise the value of biodiversity to people everywhere, and to apply this knowledge to all that they do. The Centre’s challenge is to transform complex data into policy-relevant information, to build tools and systems for analysis and integration, and to support the needs of nations and the international community as they engage in joint programmes of action. UNEP-WCMC provides objective, scientifically rigorous products and services that include ecosystem assessments, support for implementation of environmental agreements, regional and global biodiversity information, research on threats and impacts, and development of future scenarios for the living world. Prepared for: The CITES Secretariat, Geneva A contribution to UNEP - The United Nations Environment Programme Printed by: UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, UK © Copyright: UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre/CITES Secretariat The contents of this report do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNEP or contributory organisations.
    [Show full text]
  • Molecular Phylogeny of Scleractinian Corals From
    Huang et al. BMC Evolutionary Biology 2011, 11:37 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/11/37 RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access Cleaning up the ‘Bigmessidae’: Molecular phylogeny of scleractinian corals from Faviidae, Merulinidae, Pectiniidae and Trachyphylliidae Danwei Huang1,2*, Wilfredo Y Licuanan3, Andrew H Baird4, Hironobu Fukami5 Abstract Background: Molecular phylogenetic studies on scleractinian corals have shown that most taxa are not reflective of their evolutionary histories. Based principally on gross morphology, traditional taxonomy suffers from the lack of well-defined and homologous characters that can sufficiently describe scleractinian diversity. One of the most challenging clades recovered by recent analyses is ‘Bigmessidae’, an informal grouping that comprises four conventional coral families, Faviidae, Merulinidae, Pectiniidae and Trachyphylliidae, interspersed among one another with no apparent systematic pattern. There is an urgent need for taxonomic revisions in this clade, but it is vital to first establish phylogenetic relationships within the group. In this study, we reconstruct the evolutionary history of ‘Bigmessidae’ based on five DNA sequence markers gathered from 76 of the 132 currently recognized species collected from five reef regions in the central Indo-Pacific and the Atlantic. Results: We present a robust molecular phylogeny of ‘Bigmessidae’ based on the combined five-gene data, achieving a higher degree of resolution compared to previous analyses. Two Pacific species presumed to be in ‘Bigmessidae’ are more closely related to outgroup clades, suggesting that other unsampled taxa have unforeseen affinities. As expected, nested within ‘Bigmessidae’ are four conventional families as listed above, and relationships among them generally corroborate previous molecular analyses. Our more resolved phylogeny supports a close association of Hydnophora (Merulinidae) with Favites + Montastraea (Faviidae), rather than with the rest of Merulinidae, i.e., Merulina and Scapophyllia.
    [Show full text]
  • On the Current Status of Coastal Marine Biodiversity in Malaysia
    Indian Journal of Marine Sciences Vol. 34(1), March 2005, pp. 76-87 On the current status of coastal marine biodiversity in Malaysia *A G Mazlan, C C Zaidi, W M Wan-Lotfi & B H R Othman School of Environmental and Natural Resource Science, National University of Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia *[E-mail: [email protected]] Received 1 April 2004; revised 13 July 2004 The seas surrounding Malaysia is one of the largest continental shelf areas in the world contain very productive and diverse habitat and should therefore be the centre for marine biological research and data collection. Though there have been some studies on marine biodiversity dated back to mid 30's, the data collection and information gathered are however far from satisfaction. The process of data collection is in progress by time and though the process of mega-biodiversity recording is somehow jeopardized by inadequacy of taxonomists in the country. Nevertheless, the status of marine biodiversity studies around Malaysian waters is examined towards a better approach for future prospects in research and management of this valuable yet fragile ecosystem. [Key words: Marine flora, fauna, coastal diversity, Malaysia] 1.0 Introduction to rainforest in species richness. This mega diversity Malaysia (1-8oN; 100-119oE), comprising Peninsular is a result of careful sharing of a reef by all its Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak, is located in the Indo- inhabitants. They provide the fish, mollusks and Pacific region that is also includes sea areas crustaceans on which many coastal communities surrounding Indonesia and the Philippines. Peninsular depend on and, with other coastal habitats, provide Malaysia is bounded by seas on all sides except in the nutrients and breeding grounds for many commercial north where it is connected to the Asian mainland via species3.
    [Show full text]
  • Scleractinia Fauna of Taiwan I
    Scleractinia Fauna of Taiwan I. The Complex Group 台灣石珊瑚誌 I. 複雜類群 Chang-feng Dai and Sharon Horng Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University Published by National Taiwan University, No.1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei, Taiwan Table of Contents Scleractinia Fauna of Taiwan ................................................................................................1 General Introduction ........................................................................................................1 Historical Review .............................................................................................................1 Basics for Coral Taxonomy ..............................................................................................4 Taxonomic Framework and Phylogeny ........................................................................... 9 Family Acroporidae ............................................................................................................ 15 Montipora ...................................................................................................................... 17 Acropora ........................................................................................................................ 47 Anacropora .................................................................................................................... 95 Isopora ...........................................................................................................................96 Astreopora ......................................................................................................................99
    [Show full text]