Insights from the application of genetics on Pocillopora-Symbiodinium associations in the eastern tropical Pacific
Pinzón C., J.H. (2016). Insights from the application of genetics on Pocillopora-Symbiodinium associations in the eastern tropical Pacific, in: Glynn, P.W. et al. (2017). Coral reefs of the eastern tropical Pacific: Persistence and loss in a dynamic environment. Coral Reefs of the World, 8: pp. 421-433. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-7499-4_14
In: Glynn, P.W.; Manzello, D.P.; Enochs, I.C. (Ed.) (2017). Coral reefs of the eastern tropical Pacific: Persistence and loss in a dynamic environment. Coral Reefs of the World, 8. Springer Science+Business Media: Dordrecht. ISBN 978-94-017-7498-7; e-ISBN 978-94-017-7499-4. xxv, 657 pp. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-7499-4, more
In: Coral Reefs of the World. Springer: Dordrecht. ISSN 2213-719X, more
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| Keyword |
Interspecific relationships > Symbiosis
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| Author keywords |
Coevolution; Coral-algae interactions; Genetic connectivity; Diversity |
| Abstract |
As one of the most widely distributed and most studied scleractinian genera in the world, Pocillopora encompasses an important group of corals. In the eastern tropical Pacific, Pocillopora species thrive and are the major reef-building scleractinian taxon, even though conditions are considered suboptimal for coral growth and reef development. Early observations on reproduction and species distributions appear to be complicated by high phenotypic diversity and often inaccurate species identifications. New genetic-based evidence reorganizes species classifications within Pocillopora by delimiting boundaries to genetic recombination. Such improvements toward a natural and accurate taxonomy have further revealed important patterns in Symbiodinium diversity and distribution associated with Pocillopora in the eastern Pacific. Here, I review work on genetic connectivity and symbiosis ecology that may explain physiological, ecological and evolutionary characteristics that account for the differential success of this coral genus in the marginal eastern tropical Pacific. |
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