Polyp-Canal Reconstruction Reveals Evolution Toward Complexity in Corals.

ABSTRACT: Modern scleractinian corals are classified into robust, complex, and basal clades through comparative molecular studies. However, only few morphological or biological criteria can systematically determine the evolutionary trajectories of these major scleractinian coral clades. Here, we obtained the structural information of 21 scleractinian coral species representing robust and complex clades: High-resolution micro-computed tomography was used to reconstruct the polyp-canal systems in their colonies and to visualize the dynamic polyp growth processes. We found that the emergence of mesh-like canals may distinguish representatives of complex and robust clades. The differences in polyp-canal connections suggest distinct evolutionary trajectories among coral species: The formation of the cana

SUBMITTER: Li Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10243894 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature