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A new species of anthothelid octocoral (Cnidaria, Alcyonacea) discovered on an algal reef of Taiwan.

ABSTRACT: A molecular phylogenetic analysis of 132 octocoral species reveals a close relationship between specimens collected from the intertidal pools of the Datan Algal Reef, Taoyuan, Taiwan, and Erythropodiumcaribaeorum (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860), but the two species have distinct morphological features. On the basis of morphological differences in polyps and sclerites, we identify and describe a new Erythropodium species: E.taoyuanensis sp. nov. The distinct identifying features of E.taoyuanensis sp. nov. include the upright contractile polyps from thin encrusting membranes and abundant 6-radiate sclerites. Using an integrative approach, we present the findings of morphological comparisons and molecular phylogenetic analyses to demonstrate that E.taoyuanensis sp. nov. is distinct from other Erythropodium species. Our study contributes to the knowledge of octocoral biodiversity in marginal habitats.

SUBMITTER: Tu TH

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8942965 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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A new species of anthothelid octocoral (Cnidaria, Alcyonacea) discovered on an algal reef of Taiwan.

Tu Tzu-Hsuan TH Dai Chang-Feng CF

ZooKeys 20220316

A molecular phylogenetic analysis of 132 octocoral species reveals a close relationship between specimens collected from the intertidal pools of the Datan Algal Reef, Taoyuan, Taiwan, and Erythropodiumcaribaeorum (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860), but the two species have distinct morphological features. On the basis of morphological differences in polyps and sclerites, we identify and describe a new Erythropodium species: E.taoyuanensis sp. nov. The distinct identifyi ...[more]

PMID: 35586606

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Project description:Algal reefs are one of the world's rare and poorly understood ecosystems. They are mainly distributed in the Mediterranean Sea, but one notable exception-an intertidal algal reef ecosystem in northwestern Taiwan-stretches for 27 km along the coast of Taoyuan, making it probably the largest algal reef coast found in shallow water. Despite the reef's rarity and striking characteristics, the coastal land that it is part of has undergone a series of developments and is now surrounded by industrial parks. Brachyuran crabs are one of the most abundant and visible groups of organisms in the intertidal zone. In the present study, we investigated the brachyuran crab community in this reef to provide a more detailed record of brachyuran crab species compositions in this intertidal algal reef ecosystem and illustrate the characteristics of this understudied ecosystem by comparing its species diversity and abundance with three natural variables- sampling time, tidal level, and season-in a wildlife refuge and north of the refuge. Two methods were used in the study: a qualitative method (to determine the species richness) and a quantitative method (to estimate the population density). We identified a total of 52 brachyuran species from 13 families in the habitats. The highest species richness was found in Datan G2, north of the wildlife refuge. The crab species composition in this algal reef is different from its compositions in coral and rocky reefs. Our analysis indicated that the species abundance is affected by multiple factors, and a single investigation is not enough to reflect the true population density of brachyuran crabs on this reef. In addition, we found that the sites outside the wildlife refuge were in much better condition than those in the wildlife refuge, and should therefore be included in the wildlife refuge. In particular, Datan, located north of the wildlife refuge, had the highest species richness, and the area's species composition was different from that of the nearby wildlife refuge. Thus, we strongly recommend that a) the Datan area be protected to maintain this high crab diversity and b) further research be performed to better understand brachyuran crab biology in the intertidal algal reef ecosystem.

Project description:As conspicuous modular components of benthic marine habitats, gorgonian (sea fan) octocorals have perplexed taxonomists for centuries through their shear diversity, particularly throughout the Indo-Pacific. Phenotypic incongruence within and between seemingly unitary lineages across contrasting environments can provide the raw material to investigate processes of disruptive selection. Two distinct phenotypes of the Isidid Isis hippurisLinnaeus, 1758 partition between differing reef environments: long-branched bushy colonies on degraded reefs, and short-branched multi/planar colonies on healthy reefs within the Wakatobi Marine National Park (WMNP), Indonesia. Multivariate analyses reveal phenotypic traits between morphotypes were likely integrated primarily at the colony level with increased polyp density and consistently smaller sclerite dimensions at the degraded site. Sediment load and turbidity, hence light availability, primarily influenced phenotypic differences between the two sites. This distinct morphological dissimilarity between the two sites is a reliable indicator of reef health; selection primarily acting on colony morphology, porosity through branching structure, as well as sclerite diversity and size. ITS2 sequence and predicted RNA secondary structure further revealed intraspecific variation between I. hippuris morphotypes relative to such environments (ΦST = 0.7683, P < 0.001). This evidence suggests-but does not confirm-that I. hippuris morphotypes within the WMNP are two separate species; however, to what extent and taxonomic assignment requires further investigation across its full geographic distribution. Incongruence between colonies present in the WMNP with tenuously described Isis alternatives (Isis reticulataNutting, 1910, Isis minorbrachyblastaZou, Huang & Wang, 1991), questions the validity of such assignments. Furthermore, phylogenetic analyses confirm early taxonomic suggestion that the characteristic jointed axis of the Isididae is in fact a convergent trait. Thus the polyphyletic nature of the Isididae lies in its type species I. hippuris, being unrelated to the rest of its family members.

Dataset Information

A new species of anthothelid octocoral (Cnidaria, Alcyonacea) discovered on an algal reef of Taiwan.

Publications

A new species of anthothelid octocoral (Cnidaria, Alcyonacea) discovered on an algal reef of Taiwan.

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Dataset Information

A new species of anthothelid octocoral (Cnidaria, Alcyonacea) discovered on an algal reef of Taiwan.

Publications

﻿A new species of anthothelid octocoral (Cnidaria, Alcyonacea) discovered on an algal reef of Taiwan.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets

A new species of anthothelid octocoral (Cnidaria, Alcyonacea) discovered on an algal reef of Taiwan.