Phylogeography of recent Plesiastrea (Scleractinia: Plesiastreidae) based on an integrated taxonomic approach

Type Article
Date 2022-07
Language English
Author(s) Juszkiewicz David J.ORCID1, White Nicole E.1, Stolarski JarosławORCID2, Benzoni Francesca3, Arrigoni Roberto4, Baird Andrew H.ORCID5, Hoeksema Bert W.6, 7, Wilson Nerida G.ORCID8, 9, Bunce Michael1, 10, Richards Zoe T.1, 8
Affiliation(s) 1 : Coral Conservation and Research Group (CORE), Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory (TrEnD), School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia
2 : Institute of Paleobiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, PL-00-818, Warsaw, Poland
3 : Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
4 : Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms (BEOM), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy
5 : ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
6 : Taxonomy, Systematics, and Geodiversity Group, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
7 : Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands
8 : Collections & Research, Western Australian Museum, 49 Kew Street, Welshpool, Western Australia 6106, Australia
9 : School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
10 : Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR), 34 Kenepuru Drive, Porirua 5022, New Zealand
Source Molecular Phylogenetics And Evolution (1055-7903) (Elsevier BV), 2022-07 , Vol. 172 , P. 107469 (23p.)
DOI 10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107469
WOS© Times Cited 7
Keyword(s) Biogeography, Cryptic species, Microstructure, Phylogenetics, Plesiastrea versipora, Systematics
Abstract

Scleractinian corals are a diverse group of ecologically important yet highly threatened marine invertebrates, which can be challenging to identify to the species level. An influx of molecular studies has transformed scleractinian systematics, highlighting that cryptic species may be more common than previously understood. In this study, we test the hypothesis that Plesiastrea versipora (Lamarck, 1816), a species currently considered to occur throughout the Indo-Pacific in tropical, sub-tropical and temperate waters, is a single species. Molecular and morphological analyses were conducted on 80 samples collected from 31 sites spanning the majority of the species putative range and twelve mitogenomes were assembled to identify informative regions for phylogenetic reconstruction. Congruent genetic data across three gene regions supports the existence of two monophyletic clades aligning with distinct tropical and temperate provenances. Multivariate macromorphological analyses based on 13 corallite characters provided additional support for the phylogeographic split, with the number of septa and corallite density varying across this biogeographic divide. Furthermore, micromorphological and microstructural analyses identified that the temperate representatives typically develop sub-cerioid corallites with sparse or absent coenosteal features and smooth septal faces. In contrast, tropical representatives typically develop plocoid corallites separated by a porous dissepimental coenosteum and have granulated septal faces. These data suggest that at least two species exist within the genus Plesiastrea Milne Edwards & Haime, 1848. Based on examination of type material, we retain the name Plesiastrea versipora (Lamarck, 1816) for the temperate representatives of the genus and resurrect the name Plesiastrea peroni Milne Edwards & Haime, 1857 for the tropical members. This study highlights how broadly distributed hard coral taxa still need careful re-examination through an integrated systematics approach to better understand their phylogeographic patterns. Furthermore, it demonstrates the utility of integrating micro-, macro-morphological and genetic datasets, and the importance of type specimens when dealing with taxonomic revisions of scleractinian taxa.

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Juszkiewicz David J., White Nicole E., Stolarski Jarosław, Benzoni Francesca, Arrigoni Roberto, Baird Andrew H., Hoeksema Bert W., Wilson Nerida G., Bunce Michael, Richards Zoe T. (2022). Phylogeography of recent Plesiastrea (Scleractinia: Plesiastreidae) based on an integrated taxonomic approach. Molecular Phylogenetics And Evolution, 172, 107469 (23p.). Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107469 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00762/87392/