scholarly journals Cohabitation promotes high diversity of clownfishes in the Coral Triangle

2016 ◽  
Vol 283 (1827) ◽  
pp. 20160277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma F. Camp ◽  
Jean-Paul A. Hobbs ◽  
Maarten De Brauwer ◽  
Alex J. Dumbrell ◽  
David J. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Marine Ecology ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Coral Triangle ◽  
Sea Anemones ◽  
Host Anemone ◽  
High Species Richness ◽  
Diversity Systems ◽  
Subordinate Species ◽  
Host Sea Anemones ◽  
High Diversity

Global marine biodiversity peaks within the Coral Triangle, and understanding how such high diversity is maintained is a central question in marine ecology. We investigated broad-scale patterns in the diversity of clownfishes and their host sea anemones by conducting 981 belt-transects at 20 locations throughout the Indo-Pacific. Of the 1508 clownfishes encountered, 377 fish occurred in interspecific cohabiting groups and cohabitation was almost entirely restricted to the Coral Triangle. Neither the diversity nor density of host anemone or clownfish species alone influenced rates of interspecific cohabitation. Rather cohabitation occurred in areas where the number of clownfish species exceeds the number of host anemone species. In the Coral Triangle, cohabiting individuals were observed to finely partition their host anemone, with the subordinate species inhabiting the periphery. Furthermore, aggression did not increase in interspecific cohabiting groups, instead dominant species were accepting of subordinate species. Various combinations of clownfish species were observed cohabiting (independent of body size, phylogenetic relatedness, evolutionary age, dentition, level of specialization) in a range of anemone species, thereby ensuring that each clownfish species had dominant reproductive individuals in some cohabiting groups. Clownfishes are obligate commensals, thus cohabitation is an important process in maintaining biodiversity in high diversity systems because it supports the persistence of many species when host availability is limiting. Cohabitation is a likely explanation for high species richness in other obligate commensals within the Coral Triangle, and highlights the importance of protecting these habitats in order to conserve unique marine biodiversity.

scholarly journals Phylogenetic relationships among the clownfish-hosting sea anemones

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin M. Titus ◽  
Charlotte Benedict ◽  
Robert Laroche ◽  
Luciana C. Gusmão ◽  
Vanessa Van Deusen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Reconstruction ◽  
Taxonomic Revision ◽  
Sea Anemone ◽  
Coral Triangle ◽  
Sea Anemones ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Holistic Understanding ◽  
The Family ◽  
Genus 2 ◽  
Insight Into

AbstractThe clownfish-sea anemone symbiosis has been a model system for understanding fundamental evolutionary and ecological processes. However, our evolutionary understanding of this symbiosis comes entirely from studies of clownfishes. A holistic understanding of a model mutualism requires systematic, biogeographic, and phylogenetic insight into both partners. Here, we conduct the largest phylogenetic analysis of sea anemones (Order Actiniaria) to date, with a focus on expanding the biogeographic and taxonomic sampling of the 10 nominal clownfish-hosting species. Using a combination of mtDNA and nuDNA loci we test 1) the monophyly of each clownfish-hosting family and genus, 2) the current anemone taxonomy that suggests symbioses with clownfishes evolved multiple times within Actiniaria, and 3) whether, like the clownfishes, there is evidence that host anemones have a Coral Triangle biogeographic origin. Our phylogenetic reconstruction demonstrates widespread poly-and para-phyly at the family and genus level, particularly within the family Stichodactylidae and genus Sticodactyla, and suggests that symbioses with clownfishes evolved minimally three times within sea anemones. We further recover evidence for a Tethyan biogeographic origin for some clades. Our data provide the first evidence that clownfish and some sea anemone hosts have different biogeographic origins, and that there may be cryptic species of host anemones. Finally, our findings reflect the need for a major taxonomic revision of the clownfish-hosting sea anemones.

scholarly journals Probability of successful larval dispersal declines fivefold over 1 km in a coral reef fish

2011 ◽  
Vol 279 (1735) ◽  
pp. 1883-1888 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter M. Buston ◽  
Geoffrey P. Jones ◽  
Serge Planes ◽  
Simon R. Thorrold
Keyword(s):  
Larval Dispersal ◽  
Isolation By Distance ◽  
Dispersal Distance ◽  
Population Connectivity ◽  
Marine Ecology ◽  
Sea Anemones ◽  
Marine Population ◽  
Amphiprion Percula ◽  
Distance Distributions ◽  
Dispersal Distances

A central question of marine ecology is, how far do larvae disperse? Coupled biophysical models predict that the probability of successful dispersal declines as a function of distance between populations. Estimates of genetic isolation-by-distance and self-recruitment provide indirect support for this prediction. Here, we conduct the first direct test of this prediction, using data from the well-studied system of clown anemonefish ( Amphiprion percula ) at Kimbe Island, in Papua New Guinea. Amphiprion percula live in small breeding groups that inhabit sea anemones. These groups can be thought of as populations within a metapopulation. We use the x- and y -coordinates of each anemone to determine the expected distribution of dispersal distances (the distribution of distances between each and every population in the metapopulation). We use parentage analyses to trace recruits back to parents and determine the observed distribution of dispersal distances. Then, we employ a logistic model to (i) compare the observed and expected dispersal distance distributions and (ii) determine the relationship between the probability of successful dispersal and the distance between populations. The observed and expected dispersal distance distributions are significantly different ( p < 0.0001). Remarkably, the probability of successful dispersal between populations decreases fivefold over 1 km. This study provides a framework for quantitative investigations of larval dispersal that can be applied to other species. Further, the approach facilitates testing biological and physical hypotheses for the factors influencing larval dispersal in unison, which will advance our understanding of marine population connectivity.

scholarly journals Effect of hypoxia and anoxia on invertebrate behaviour: ecological perspectives from species to community level

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1491-1518 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Riedel ◽  
T. Pados ◽  
K. Pretterebner ◽  
L. Schiemer ◽  
A. Steckbauer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Benthic Macrofauna ◽  
Sediment Surface ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Ecosystem Structure ◽  
Natural Setting ◽  
Sea Anemones ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Individual Organism ◽  
Key Species

Abstract. Coastal hypoxia and anoxia have become a global key stressor to marine ecosystems, with almost 500 dead zones recorded worldwide. By triggering cascading effects from the individual organism to the community- and ecosystem level, oxygen depletions threaten marine biodiversity and can alter ecosystem structure and function. By integrating both physiological function and ecological processes, animal behaviour is ideal for assessing the stress state of benthic macrofauna to low dissolved oxygen. The initial response of organisms can serve as an early warning signal, while the successive behavioural reactions of key species indicate hypoxia levels and help assess community degradation. Here we document the behavioural responses of a representative spectrum of benthic macrofauna in the natural setting in the Northern Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean). We experimentally induced small-scale anoxia with a benthic chamber in 24 m depth to overcome the difficulties in predicting the onset of hypoxia, which often hinders full documentation in the field. The behavioural reactions were documented with a time-lapse camera. Oxygen depletion elicited significant and repeatable changes in general (visibility, locomotion, body movement and posture, location) and species-specific reactions in virtually all organisms (302 individuals from 32 species and 2 species groups). Most atypical (stress) behaviours were associated with specific oxygen thresholds: arm-tipping in the ophiuroid Ophiothrix quinquemaculata, for example, with the onset of mild hypoxia (< 2 mL O2 L−1), the emergence of polychaetes on the sediment surface with moderate hypoxia (< 1 mL O2 L−1), the emergence of the infaunal sea urchin Schizaster canaliferus on the sediment with severe hypoxia (< 0.5 mL O2 L−1) and heavy body rotations in sea anemones with anoxia. Other species changed their activity patterns, for example the circadian rhythm in the hermit crab Paguristes eremita or the bioherm-associated crab Pisidia longimana. Intra- and interspecific reactions were weakened or changed: decapods ceased defensive and territorial behaviour, and predator–prey interactions and relationships shifted. This nuanced scale of resolution is a useful tool to interpret present benthic community status (behaviour) and past mortalities (community composition, e.g. survival of tolerant species). This information on the sensitivity (onset of stress response), tolerance (mortality, survival), and characteristics (i.e. life habit, functional role) of key species also helps predict potential future changes in benthic structure and ecosystem functioning. This integrated approach can transport complex ecological processes to the public and decision-makers and help define specific monitoring, assessment and conservation plans.

scholarly journals The Coral Triangle Initiative: what are we missing? A case study from Aceh

Oryx ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 482-485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edi Rudi ◽  
Stuart J. Campbell ◽  
Andrew S. Hoey ◽  
Nur Fadli ◽  
Matthew Linkie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Western Indian Ocean ◽  
Andaman Sea ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Western Boundary ◽  
Coral Triangle ◽  
Coral Fauna ◽  
High Conservation ◽  
Reef Fauna

AbstractThe Coral Triangle Initiative is an ambitious attempt to conserve the marine biodiversity hotspot known as the Coral Triangle. However, the reef fauna in many nearby regions remains poorly explored and, consequently, the focus on the Coral Triangle risks overlooking other areas of high conservation significance. One region of potential significance, Aceh, Indonesia, has not been visited by coral taxonomists since the Dutch colonial period. Here we document the species richness of scleractinian corals of Pulau Weh, Aceh. We also compare the species richness of the genus Acropora at 3–5 sites in each of nine regions in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Although dominated by widespread Indo-Pacific species, the coral fauna of Pulau Weh is also the eastern and western boundary for many Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean species, respectively. We identified a total of 133 scleractinian species, of which three have been previously recorded only in the western Indian Ocean and five are presently undescribed. The mean species richness of the Acropora at Pulau Weh is similar to regions within the Coral Triangle. This high species richness plus the high proportion of endemics suggests that the Andaman Sea is of similarly high conservation value to the Coral Triangle. We suggest that an international initiative similar to the Coral Triangle Initiative is required to conserve this region, which includes the territorial waters of six countries.

scholarly journals Energy potential for combustion and anaerobic digestion of biomass from low-input high-diversity systems in conservation areas

GCB Bioenergy ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 888-898 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koenraad Van Meerbeek ◽  
Lise Appels ◽  
Raf Dewil ◽  
Jonathan Van Beek ◽  
Lore Bellings ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Conservation Areas ◽  
Energy Potential ◽  
Low Input ◽  
Diversity Systems ◽  
High Diversity

scholarly journals Metabarcoding Reveals High Diversity of Benthic Foraminifera Driven by Atlantification of Coastal Svalbard

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ngoc-Loi Nguyen ◽  
Joanna Pawłowska ◽  
Inès Barrenechea Angeles ◽  
Marek Zajaczkowski ◽  
Jan Pawłowski
Keyword(s):  
Water Masses ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Reference Database ◽  
Morphological Identification ◽  
Western Coast ◽  
Svalbard Archipelago ◽  
Open Sea ◽  
The Impact ◽  
High Diversity

Abstract Arctic marine biodiversity is undergoing rapid changes due to global warming and modifications of oceanic water masses circulation. These changes have been demonstrated in the case of mega- and macrofauna, but much less is known about their impact on the biodiversity of smaller size organisms, such as foraminifera that represents a main component of meiofauna in the Arctic. Several studies analysed the distribution and diversity of Arctic foraminifera. However, all these studies are based exclusively on the morphological identification of specimens sorted from sediment samples. Here, we present the first assessment of Arctic foraminifera diversity based on metabarcoding of sediment DNA samples collected in fjords and open sea areas in Svalbard Archipelago. We obtained a total of 5,968,786 reads that represented 1,384 ASVs. More than half of the ASVs (51.7%) could not be assigned to any group in the reference database suggesting a high genetic novelty of Svalbard foraminifera. The sieved and unsieved samples resolved comparable communities, sharing 1023 ASVs, comprising over 97% of reads. Our analyses show that the foraminiferal assemblage differs between the localities, with communities distinctly separated between fjord and open sea stations. Each locality was characterized by a specific assemblage, with only a small overlap in the case of open sea areas. Our study demonstrates a clear pattern of the influence of water masses on the structure of foraminiferal communities. The stations situated on the western coast of Svalbard that is strongly influenced by warm and salty Atlantic Water (AW) are characterized by much higher diversity than stations in the northern and eastern part, where the impact of AW is less pronounced. This high diversity and specificity of Svalbard foraminifera associated with water mass distribution indicate that the foraminiferal metabarcoding data can be a very useful tool for inferring present and past environmental conditions in the Arctic.

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