Pocillopora meandrinadaytime broadcast spawning in Moorea, French Polynesia

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Oct. 6, 2023

Abstract Knowledge of when corals release gametes is fundamentally important for understanding reef ecology and evolution, but further research needed to document patterns at the species level in a broader range taxa. In Mo’orea (17°32′S 149°50′W), French Polynesia, were decimated by crown-of-thorns cyclone between 2007-2010, Pocillopora spp. recruitment primarily drove recovery over following decade. Furthermore, recent has identified that community composed six morphologically-cryptic species. Spawning times genetically-verified are undocumented scientific literature. To address this gap, we conducted situ surveys total 89 days during September 2022 - January 2023 October 2024. For observed spawning, used molecular analysis mtORF PocHistone markers identify We documented synchronized lagoon spawning P. meandrina 2-3 full moon December (06:16-06:32, 06:21-06:35), few colonies (06:22-06:38) single colony November (06:32). contrast, sister verrucosa tuahiniensis spawned around new moons 2023. These species’ overlapped one day after moon, tended on earlier (∼05:45 06:15), whereas 1 3 later (∼06:30 06:50), only cf. effusa (+3 ∼06:30 06:50). Collectively, these first reported observations provide an initial documentation (to our knowledge), expanding indigenous knowledge increasing capacity study essential, yet environmentally sensitive, process coral reproduction critical building Polynesia.

Language: Английский

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Interspecies differences in the transcriptome response of corals to acute heat stress

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Aug. 17, 2024

Rising sea surface temperatures threaten the survival of corals worldwide, with coral bleaching events becoming more commonplace. However, different species are known to exhibit variable levels susceptibility thermal stress events. To elucidate genetic mechanisms that may underlie these differences, we compared gene complement four species, Favites colemani, Montipora digitata, Acropora digitifera, and Seriatopora caliendrum, were previously demonstrated have differing responses acute stress. We found tolerant like F. colemani M. possess a greater abundance antioxidant protein families chaperones. Under conditions, only S. caliendrum showed significant response, which was accompanied by activation DNA damage response network drastic upregulation genes (SRGs). This suggests differences in SRG complement, as well control expression contribute ability maintain stable physiological functions is required survive shifts seawater temperature.

Language: Английский

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Pocillopora tuahiniensis: a new species of scleractinian coral (Scleractinia, Pocilloporidae) from French Polynesia

Zootaxa, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 5369(1), P. 117 - 124

Published: Nov. 7, 2023

Pocillopora tuahiniensis sp. nov. is described based on mitochondrial and nuclear genomic data, algal symbiont genetic geographic isolation, its distribution pattern within reefs that distinct from other sympatric species (Johnston et al. 2022a, b). Mitochondrial data reveal P. a unique species, sister to verrucosa, in clade different of meandrina 2022a). However, the gross situ colony appearance cannot easily be differentiated verrucosa or at Moorea. By sequencing mtORF region, can distinguished species. has so far been sampled French Polynesia, Ducie Island, Rapa Nui (Armstrong 2023; Edmunds 2016; Forsman 2013; Glin 2017; Mayfield 2015; Oury 2021; Voolstra 2023). On fore Moorea, very abundant 10 m one most common these depths 2022b). It also found much lower abundance shallow reef back lagoon. The holotype deposited Smithsonian Institution as USNM-SI 1522390 Genbank accession number OP418359.

Language: Английский

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