| Abstract | The radiation of symbiotic copepods (Crustacea: Copepoda) living in association with stony corals (Cnidaria: Scleractinia) is considered host-specific and linked to the phylogenetic diversification of their hosts. However, symbiotic copepods are poorly investigated, occurrence records are mostly anecdotal, and no explicit analysis exists regarding their relationship with the hosts. Here, we analysed the occurrence of symbiotic copepods on different co-occurring and phylogenetically closely related scleractinian corals. We used an innovative approach of DNA extraction from single microscopic specimens that preserves the shape of the organisms for integrative morphological studies. The rationale of the study involved: (i) sampling of mushroom corals (Fungiidae) belonging to 13 species and eight genera on different reefs along the Saudi coastline in the Red Sea, (ii) extraction of all the associated copepods, (iii) morphological screening and identification of copepod species, (iv) use of DNA taxonomy on mitochondrial and nuclear markers to determine species boundaries for morphologically unknown copepod species, (v) reconstruction of phylogenies to understand their evolutionary relationships, and (vi) analysis of the ecological drivers of the occurrence, diversity and host specificity of the copepods. The seven species of coral-associated copepods, all new to science, did not show any statistically significant evidence of host-specificity or other pattern of ecological association. We thus suggest that, contrary to most assumptions and previous anecdotal evidence on this coral-copepod host-symbiont system, the association between copepods and their host corals is rather labile, not strict, and not phylogenetically constrained, changing our perception on evolutionary patterns and processes in symbiotic copepods. |
| Text | 389609 2018 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.06.024 Scopus 2 s2.0 85048843479 copepoda Lack of host specificity of copepod crustaceans associated with mushroom corals in the Red Sea Ivanenko V.N.; Hoeksema B.W.; Mudrova S.V.; Nikitin M.A.; Martinez A.; Rimskaya Korsakova N.N.; Berumen M.L.; Fontaneto D. Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Biological Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, 1 12, Moscow, 119992, , Russian Federation; Taxonomy and Systematics Group, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, RA Leiden, 2300, , Netherlands; Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955 6900, , Saudi Arabia; A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, , Russian Federation; National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Ecosystem Study, Largo Tonolli 50, Verbania Pallanza, 28922, , Italy The radiation of symbiotic copepods Crustacea Copepoda living in association with stony corals Cnidaria Scleractinia is considered host specific and linked to the phylogenetic diversification of their hosts. However, symbiotic copepods are poorly investigated, occurrence records are mostly anecdotal, and no explicit analysis exists regarding their relationship with the hosts. Here, we analysed the occurrence of symbiotic copepods on different co occurring and phylogenetically closely related scleractinian corals. We used an innovative approach of DNA extraction from single microscopic specimens that preserves the shape of the organisms for integrative morphological studies. The rationale of the study involved i sampling of mushroom corals Fungiidae belonging to 13 species and eight genera on different reefs along the Saudi coastline in the Red Sea, ii extraction of all the associated copepods, iii morphological screening and identification of copepod species, iv use of DNA taxonomy on mitochondrial and nuclear markers to determine species boundaries for morphologically unknown copepod species, v reconstruction of phylogenies to understand their evolutionary relationships, and vi analysis of the ecological drivers of the occurrence, diversity and host specificity of the copepods. The seven species of coral associated copepods, all new to science, did not show any statistically significant evidence of host specificity or other pattern of ecological association. We thus suggest that, contrary to most assumptions and previous anecdotal evidence on this coral copepod host symbiont system, the association between copepods and their host corals is rather labile, not strict, and not phylogenetically constrained, changing our perception on evolutionary patterns and processes in symbiotic copepods. 127 Published version https //www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1055790318301945 red sea 1 s2.0 S1055790318301945 main.pdf Articolo in rivista Academic Press, 1055 7903 Molecular phylogenetics and evolution Print Molecular phylogenetics and evolution Print Mol. phylogenet. evol. Print Molecular phylogenetics and evolution. Print alejandro.martinezgarcia MARTINEZ GARCIA ALEJANDRO diego.fontaneto FONTANETO DIEGO DIT.AD008.050.001 Gestione Bandi Accordo Bilaterale Russia RFBR |
