Polyphyly and hidden species among Hawaiʻi’s dominant mesophotic coral genera, Leptoseris and Pavona (Scleractinia: Agariciidae)
Widespread polyphyly in stony corals (order Scleractinia) has prompted efforts to revise their systematics through approaches that integrate molecular and micromorphological evidence. To date, these approaches have not been comprehensively applied to the dominant genera in mesophotic coral ecosystem...
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PeerJ Inc.
2013-08-01
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/132.pdf |
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| author | Daniel G. Luck Zac H. Forsman Robert J. Toonen Sarah J. Leicht Samuel E. Kahng |
| author_facet | Daniel G. Luck Zac H. Forsman Robert J. Toonen Sarah J. Leicht Samuel E. Kahng |
| author_sort | Daniel G. Luck |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Widespread polyphyly in stony corals (order Scleractinia) has prompted efforts to revise their systematics through approaches that integrate molecular and micromorphological evidence. To date, these approaches have not been comprehensively applied to the dominant genera in mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) because several species in these genera occur primarily at depths that are poorly explored and from which sample collections are limited. This study is the first integrated morphological and molecular systematic analysis of the genera Leptoseris and Pavona to examine material both from shallow-water reefs (<30 m) and from mid- to lower-MCEs (>60 m). Skeletal and tissue samples were collected throughout the Hawaiian Archipelago between 2–127 m. A novel mitochondrial marker (cox1-1-rRNA intron) was sequenced for 70 colonies, and the micromorphologies of 94 skeletons, plus selected type material, were analyzed. The cox1-1-rRNA intron resolved 8 clades, yet Leptoseris and Pavona were polyphyletic. Skeletal micromorphology, especially costal ornamentation, showed strong correspondence and discrete differences between mitochondrial groups. One putative new Leptoseris species was identified and the global depth range of the genus Pavona was extended to 89 m, suggesting that the diversity of mesophotic scleractinians has been underestimated. Examination of species’ depth distributions revealed a pattern of depth zonation: Species common in shallow-water were absent or rare >40 m, whereas others occurred only >60 m. These patterns emphasize the importance of integrated systematic analyses and more comprehensive sampling by depth in assessing the connectivity and diversity of MCEs. |
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| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:58:03Z |
| publishDate | 2013-08-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-56224f1493464229b16fa128303d50d62023-12-03T10:01:31ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592013-08-011e13210.7717/peerj.132132Polyphyly and hidden species among Hawaiʻi’s dominant mesophotic coral genera, Leptoseris and Pavona (Scleractinia: Agariciidae)Daniel G. Luck0Zac H. Forsman1Robert J. Toonen2Sarah J. Leicht3Samuel E. Kahng4Hawaiʻi Pacific University, Marine Science Program, Waimanalo, HI, USAUniversity of Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology, Kaneʻohe, HI, USAUniversity of Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology, Kaneʻohe, HI, USAHawaiʻi Pacific University, Marine Science Program, Waimanalo, HI, USAHawaiʻi Pacific University, Marine Science Program, Waimanalo, HI, USAWidespread polyphyly in stony corals (order Scleractinia) has prompted efforts to revise their systematics through approaches that integrate molecular and micromorphological evidence. To date, these approaches have not been comprehensively applied to the dominant genera in mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) because several species in these genera occur primarily at depths that are poorly explored and from which sample collections are limited. This study is the first integrated morphological and molecular systematic analysis of the genera Leptoseris and Pavona to examine material both from shallow-water reefs (<30 m) and from mid- to lower-MCEs (>60 m). Skeletal and tissue samples were collected throughout the Hawaiian Archipelago between 2–127 m. A novel mitochondrial marker (cox1-1-rRNA intron) was sequenced for 70 colonies, and the micromorphologies of 94 skeletons, plus selected type material, were analyzed. The cox1-1-rRNA intron resolved 8 clades, yet Leptoseris and Pavona were polyphyletic. Skeletal micromorphology, especially costal ornamentation, showed strong correspondence and discrete differences between mitochondrial groups. One putative new Leptoseris species was identified and the global depth range of the genus Pavona was extended to 89 m, suggesting that the diversity of mesophotic scleractinians has been underestimated. Examination of species’ depth distributions revealed a pattern of depth zonation: Species common in shallow-water were absent or rare >40 m, whereas others occurred only >60 m. These patterns emphasize the importance of integrated systematic analyses and more comprehensive sampling by depth in assessing the connectivity and diversity of MCEs.https://peerj.com/articles/132.pdfLeptoserisPavonaMesophotic coral ecosystemsIntegrated systematicsMolecular phylogeneticsMicromorphology |
| spellingShingle | Daniel G. Luck Zac H. Forsman Robert J. Toonen Sarah J. Leicht Samuel E. Kahng Polyphyly and hidden species among Hawaiʻi’s dominant mesophotic coral genera, Leptoseris and Pavona (Scleractinia: Agariciidae) PeerJ Leptoseris Pavona Mesophotic coral ecosystems Integrated systematics Molecular phylogenetics Micromorphology |
| title | Polyphyly and hidden species among Hawaiʻi’s dominant mesophotic coral genera, Leptoseris and Pavona (Scleractinia: Agariciidae) |
| title_full | Polyphyly and hidden species among Hawaiʻi’s dominant mesophotic coral genera, Leptoseris and Pavona (Scleractinia: Agariciidae) |
| title_fullStr | Polyphyly and hidden species among Hawaiʻi’s dominant mesophotic coral genera, Leptoseris and Pavona (Scleractinia: Agariciidae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Polyphyly and hidden species among Hawaiʻi’s dominant mesophotic coral genera, Leptoseris and Pavona (Scleractinia: Agariciidae) |
| title_short | Polyphyly and hidden species among Hawaiʻi’s dominant mesophotic coral genera, Leptoseris and Pavona (Scleractinia: Agariciidae) |
| title_sort | polyphyly and hidden species among hawai i s dominant mesophotic coral genera leptoseris and pavona scleractinia agariciidae |
| topic | Leptoseris Pavona Mesophotic coral ecosystems Integrated systematics Molecular phylogenetics Micromorphology |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/132.pdf |
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