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.
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
14(1)
Published: June 1, 2023
Heat
waves
are
causing
declines
in
coral
reefs
globally.
Coral
thermal
responses
depend
on
multiple,
interacting
drivers,
such
as
past
exposure,
endosymbiont
community
composition,
and
host
genotype.
This
makes
the
understanding
of
their
relative
roles
adaptive
and/or
plastic
crucial
for
anticipating
impacts
future
warming.
Here,
we
extracted
DNA
RNA
from
102
Pocillopora
colonies
collected
32
sites
11
islands
across
Pacific
Ocean
to
characterize
host-photosymbiont
fidelity
investigate
patterns
gene
expression
a
historical
gradient.
We
report
high
show
that
microalgal
respond
different
drivers.
Differences
photosymbiotic
association
had
only
weak
expression,
which
was
more
strongly
correlated
with
environment,
whereas,
photosymbiont
largely
determined
by
lineage.
Overall,
our
results
reveal
three-tiered
strategy
acclimatization
underpinned
specificity,
transcriptomic
plasticity,
differential
under
extreme
Conservation
and
management
of
coral
reef
ecosystems
will
depend
on
accurate
assessments
reef-building
species
diversity.
However,
the
true
diversity
corals
may
be
obfuscated
by
presence
cryptic
species,
which
are
likely
much
more
pervasive
than
is
currently
recognised.
Additionally,
sometimes
hybridize,
resulting
in
gene
introgression
between
species.
Here,
we
investigate
prevalence
via
a
structured
literature
review
find
that
over
50%
population
genomic
studies
show
evidence
for
divisions
within
taxonomically
recognised
such
closely-related
taxa
often
linked
flow.
We
frequently
segregate
environment,
especially
depth,
differ
phenotypic
characteristics
including
resilience
to
heat
stress.
This
hidden
biodiversity
creates
challenges
conservation
restoration
planning
not
well
appreciated,
hiding
declines,
biasing
estimates
species’
breadth,
overestimating
stressors,
yielding
uncertainty
evolutionary
dynamics
inferred
from
past
studies,
creating
reproductive
barriers
limit
mating
local
translocated
corals.
Increasing
awareness
with
incomplete
boundaries
common
building
this
expectation
into
plans
an
important
pathway
forward.
Rich
opportunities
interdisciplinary
collaboration
among
speciation
biologists
could
fill
key
knowledge
gaps
relevant
conservation.
detail
recommendations
best
practice
strategies
identifying
hybrids
urge
their
consideration
all
future
BMC Genomics,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
25(1)
Published: Nov. 20, 2024
Abstract
Background
Over
their
evolutionary
history,
corals
have
adapted
to
sea
level
rise
and
increasing
ocean
temperatures,
however,
it
is
unclear
how
quickly
they
may
respond
rapid
change.
Genome
structure
genetic
diversity
contained
within
highlight
adaptive
potential.
Results
We
present
chromosome-scale
genome
assemblies
linkage
maps
of
the
critically
endangered
Atlantic
acroporids,
Acropora
palmata
A.
cervicornis
.
Both
were
resolved
into
14
chromosomes
with
gene
content
colinearity.
Repeats
chromosome
arrangements
largely
preserved
between
species.
The
family
Acroporidae
genus
exhibited
many
phylogenetically
significant
expansions.
Macrosynteny
decreased
phylogenetic
distance.
Nevertheless,
scleractinians
shared
six
21
cnidarian
ancestral
groups
as
well
numerous
fission
fusion
events
compared
other
distantly
related
cnidarians.
Genetic
constructed
from
one
16
families
using
a
genotyping
array.
consensus
span
1,013.42
cM
927.36
for
,
respectively.
species
high
genome-wide
recombination
rates
(3.04
3.53
cM/Mb)
pronounced
sex-based
differences,
known
heterochiasmy,
2
2.5X
higher
estimated
in
female
maps.
Conclusions
Together,
we
here
are
first
detailed
look
at
genomic
landscapes
acroporids.
These
data
sets
revealed
that
capacity
acroporids
not
limited
by
rates.
sister
maintain
macrosynteny
few
genes
sequence
divergence
act
reproductive
barriers
them.
In
hybridization
two
yields
an
F1
hybrid
fertility
despite
levels
colinearity
genomes.
these
resources
now
enable
association
studies
discovery
quantitative
trait
loci,
tools
can
aid
conservation
PLoS ONE,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
20(2), P. e0318653 - e0318653
Published: Feb. 6, 2025
Cryptic
genetic
variation
is
increasingly
being
identified
in
numerous
coral
species,
with
prior
research
indicating
that
different
cryptic
lineages
can
exhibit
varied
responses
to
environmental
changes.
This
suggests
a
potential
link
between
and
local
conditions.
In
this
study,
we
investigate
how
communities
of
vary
along
gradients.
We
began
by
identifying
within
six
species
sampled
around
St.
Croix,
USVI
based
on
2b-RAD
sequencing
data.
then
analyzed
associations
the
distributions
across
(i.e.,
“cryptic
community
composition”)
ecoregions,
or
geographically
distinct
Our
findings
show
depth
more
significant
predictor
composition
than
ecoregions
most
influential
factor
among
40
abiotic
variables
characterize
ecoregions.
These
results
imply
are
influenced
both
conditions,
although
exact
factors
driving
these
patterns
remain
unknown.
Understanding
turnover
seascape
important
consider
when
outplanting
corals
restore
reef,
as
locally-adapted
may
have
differential
fitness
Frontiers in Environmental Economics,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
4
Published: Feb. 7, 2025
The
article
explores
the
global
promise
of
natural
reserves
knowledge
capital
that
permeate
earth's
evolutionary
and
ecological
connectivity
may
constitute
greatest
reserve
sustainability
common
good
economy.
It
builds
case
for
valuing
yielded
by
basic
research
inter-relates
properties
processes
across
beyond
national
jurisdictions
as
a
mapping
tool
World
Heritage
nominations
well
collaborations
would
deliver
unique
stimulus
building
conservation-premised
transnational
economies
fully
engage
developing
world.
This
perspective
is
vetted
in
South
Pacific
Island
Region,
Eastern
Tropical
Pacific,
Isthmus
Panama,
via
model
approaches
crafted
to
empower
instrument
vitalize
economic
might
scientific
exploration
planet's
biodiversity
play
central
role
unlocking
potential
nature's
knowledge-rich
pathways
redefine
world's
geography.
roadmap
toward
unleashing
energy
endeavors
stewards
new
conservation
frontiers
offered
with
business
grounded
confluence
wonder
contributing
an
investment
platform
encourages
globally
shared
benefit
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
14(1)
Published: June 1, 2023
The
Tara
Pacific
program
and
expedition
focused
on
coral
reefs
across
the
Ocean
used
a
coordinated
sampling
effort
to
address
questions
at
multiple
scales
using
common
suite
of
samples.
Here,
we
highlight
some
achievements,
discussing
benefits
long-duration
sea
expeditions
for
investigating
wide
array
research
within
selected
ecosystem.
Journal of Experimental Biology,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
227(11)
Published: May 3, 2024
Understanding
how
tropical
corals
respond
to
temperatures
is
important
evaluating
their
capacity
persist
in
a
warmer
future.
We
studied
the
common
Pacific
coral
Pocillopora
over
44°
of
latitude,
and
used
populations
at
three
islands
with
different
thermal
regimes
compare
responses
temperature
using
performance
curves
(TPCs)
for
respiration
gross
photosynthesis.
Corals
were
sampled
local
autumn
from
Moorea,
Guam
Okinawa,
where
mean±s.d.
annual
seawater
28.0±0.9°C,
28.9±0.7°C
25.1±3.4°C,
respectively.
TPCs
similar
among
latitudes,
optimum
(Topt)
was
above
maximum
all
islands,
lowest
Okinawa.
photosynthesis
wider,
implying
greater
eurytopy,
higher
Topt
Moorea
versus
but
daily
13%
year
Okinawa
53%
Guam.
There
variation
than
or
which
translated
large
supply
metabolic
energy
photosynthetically
fixed
carbon
latitudes.
Despite
these
trends,
differences
spp.
not
profoundly
across
reducing
likelihood
that
could
better
match
phenotypes
future
more
extreme
through
migration.
Any
such
response
would
place
premium
on
high
plasticity
tolerance
seasonal
variations
budgets.