Niche breadth and divergence in sympatric cryptic coral species (Pocillopora spp.) across habitats within reefs and among algal symbionts.

ABSTRACT: While the presence of morphologically cryptic species is increasingly recognized, we still lack a useful understanding of what causes and maintains co-occurring cryptic species and its consequences for the ecology, evolution, and conservation of communities. We sampled 724 Pocillopora corals from five habitat zones (the fringing reef, back reef, and fore reef at 5, 10, and 20 m) at four sites around the island of Moorea, French Polynesia. Using validated genetic markers, we identified six sympatric species of Pocillopora, most of which cannot be reliably identified based on morphology: P. meandrina (42.9%), P. tuahiniensis (25.1%), P. verrucosa (12.2%), P. acuta (10.4%), P. grandis (7.73%), and P. cf. effusa (2.76%). For 423 co

SUBMITTER: Burgess SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11294925 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature