Article
Microbiology
Fangfang Yang, Zhiliang Xiao, Zhangliang Wei, Lijuan Long
Summary: This study reveals that the microbial community structure associated with P. onkodes generally displayed a degree of stability, and bleached algae was still able to induce larval settlement and metamorphosis.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jan Y. Xue, Katharine R. Hind, Matthew A. Lemay, Andrea Mcminigal, Emma Jourdain, Cheong Xin Chan, Patrick T. Martone
Summary: In this study, we identified key gene candidates in the lignin biosynthesis pathway of the red alga Calliarthron tuberculosum using transcriptome and genomic data. We found evidence of independent evolution of these gene candidates from their land plant counterparts. Additionally, tools for extracting metabolic pathways and genes were provided using the transcriptomic and genomic datasets.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
John P. Rippe, Groves Dixon, Zachary L. Fuller, Yi Liao, Mikhail Matz
Summary: The study revealed that two common coral species in the Florida Keys are each composed of four genetically distinct lineages, with two lineages specialized for deep habitats. Furthermore, corals migrating across reef zones are more likely to die before reaching adulthood.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Oliver Selmoni, Gael Lecellier, Helene Magalon, Laurent Vigliola, Nicolas Oury, Francesca Benzoni, Christophe Peignon, Stephane Joost, Veronique Berteaux-Lecellier
Summary: The study found that some coral species have developed tolerance against heat stress, possibly through local adaptation. Using seascape genomics approach, heat stress-associated SNPs were identified in genes related to pathways such as protein folding, oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and DNA repair in these species.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kayla Cayemitte, Nadege Aoki, Sophie R. Ferguson, T. Aran Mooney, Amy Apprill
Summary: The settlement of coral larvae is crucial for the success and longevity of coral reefs. However, the proliferation of Ramicrusta sp., a red-brown encrusting alga, poses a serious threat to coral recruitment by overgrowing corals and causing high mortality rates in larvae compared to crustose coralline algae (CCA) and control groups.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
So Young Jeong, Paul W. Gabrielson, Jeffery R. Hughey, Andrew S. Hoey, Tae Oh Cho, Muhammad A. Abdul Wahab, Guillermo Diaz-Pulido
Summary: Porolithon is an ecologically important genus of crustose coralline algae, distributed abundantly in tropical and subtropical shallow margins of coral reefs. Sequence comparisons of type specimens and field-collected specimens reveal four unique genetic lineages, suggesting the absence of P. gardineri and P. craspedium in eastern Australia. Furthermore, four new species are discovered, distinguished by growth form, margin shape, and medullary system. Urgent documentation of the taxonomic diversity of Porolithon species is necessary due to their ecological importance and sensitivity to ocean acidification.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Claudia Tatiana Galindo-Martinez, Michele Weber, Viridiana Avila-Magana, Susana Enriquez, Hiroaki Kitano, Monica Medina, Roberto Iglesias-Prieto
Summary: This study investigates the recovery of Caribbean coral after bleaching. The research found that high temperature stress caused coral bleaching, but only a fraction of the corals showed signs of recovery after the stress was removed, with endolithic algae playing an important role in the recovery process.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Hong Cai, Hao Zhang, Daniel H. Guo, Yufeng Wang, Jianying Gu
Summary: This study revealed an abundant yet unknown repertoire of transporters in Coccidioides fungi through genomic data mining. These transporters may play diverse roles in nutrient uptake, metabolite secretion, ion homeostasis, drug efflux, and signaling in these understudied fungal pathogens. This study represents an initial effort for a systems-level characterization of the transport machinery in Coccidioides.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Xue Qin, Hao Wang, Chao Miao, Xinyan Yang, Yanming Zhang, Jing Feng, Stephen J. Forsythe, Chaoxin Man, Yujun Jiang
Summary: The genus Cronobacter is an opportunistic food-borne pathogen with considerable genetic diversity and adaptability to diverse environments. Genomic analysis revealed the variation in terms of virulence, drug resistance, and factors involved in horizontal gene transfer. The study identified core genes for substrate transport and metabolism, as well as antibiotic resistance genetic determinants classified into various AROs, while also uncovering genomic islands likely acquired through horizontal gene transfer.
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carly B. Scott, Anny Cardenas, Matthew Mah, Vagheesh M. Narasimhan, Nadin Rohland, Lauren T. Toth, Christian R. Voolstra, David Reich, Mikhail Matz
Summary: For the first time, this study utilized aDNA from ancient fossil coral fragments to gain new insights into the declining western Atlantic reef ecosystem. The results showed the possibility of sequencing aDNA from reef cores and comparing it with modern-day genetic variation. The study also revealed the stability of the coral holobiont over time and laid the foundation for studying the impacts of environmental stress and evolutionary constraints.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Jean-Paul A. Hobbs, Zoe T. Richards, Iva Popovic, Chuan Lei, Timo M. Staeudle, Stefano R. Montanari, Joseph D. DiBattista
Summary: Hybridisation in the marine environment, particularly in coral reef ecosystems, is more common than previously thought. Fish and hermatypic corals show high prevalence of hybridisation, with fish hybrids being linked to biogeographic borders while coral hybrids are not. These findings suggest that hybridisation can influence the evolution of fishes and corals in various ways.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Christian R. Voolstra, Kate M. Quigley, Sarah W. Davies, John Everett Parkinson, Raquel S. Peixoto, Manuel Aranda, Andrew C. Baker, Adam R. Barno, Daniel J. Barshis, Francesca Benzoni, Victor Bonito, David G. Bourne, Carol Buitrago-Lopez, Tom C. L. Bridge, Cheong Xin Chan, David J. Combosch, Jamie Craggs, Joerg C. Frommlet, Santiago Herrera, Andrea M. Quattrini, Till Roethig, James D. Reimer, Esther Rubio-Portillo, David J. Suggett, Helena Villela, Maren Ziegler, Michael Sweet
Summary: Coral research is transitioning to the genomic era, where effective pairing of high-quality genomes with taxonomic characterizations and ecological relevance is needed. Lack of a formal framework calls for consensus guidelines to reconcile different types of data, especially for the metaorganism nature of the coral holobiont. While exhaustive taxonomic characterization of all coral holobiont member species is currently not feasible, guidelines on minimal, recommended, and ideal-case descriptions will aid in future referencing and comparative studies.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lin Yang, Fuwen Wei, Xiangjiang Zhan, Huizhong Fan, Pengpeng Zhao, Guangping Huang, Jiang Chang, Yinghu Lei, Yibo Hu
Summary: This study investigates the genomics of takins and reveals the existence of two phylogenetic species and recent speciation. Two genetically divergent subspecies were also identified. The findings provide insights into the scientific conservation of takins and the biogeography of the Himalaya-Hengduan biodiversity hotspot.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yannis Schoneberg, Sven Winter, Oscar Arribas, Matteo Riccardo Di Nicola, Maya Master, John Benjamin Owens, Michail Rovatsos, Wolfgang Wuester, Axel Janke, Uwe Fritz
Summary: Understanding speciation is important in biological diversity research. The snake genus Natrix, in particular, provides a diverse group for studying speciation, with different stages of speciation and evidence of genetic exchange between sympatric and allopatric species pairs. Through sequencing and analyzing genomes, a complex history of interspecific gene flow was discovered, indicating that speciation and species distinctness can occur despite genetic exchange. These findings highlight the importance of studying speciation in maintaining biological diversity.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biology
Carlos Leiva, Rocio Perez-Portela, Sarah Lemer
Summary: Research shows that coral adaptation to ocean acidification is a comprehensive process involving multiple components of the coral holobiont. Corals may adapt to acidification by regulating specific genes, which is independent of genetic differentiation in dinoflagellate photosymbionts and shifts in microbial composition. Certain coral holobionts from future ocean conditions may possess beneficial genetic variants that enable rapid adaptation to ocean acidification.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Nathalie Butt, Benjamin S. Halpern, Casey C. O'Hara, A. Louise Allcock, Beth Polidoro, Samantha Sherman, Maria Byrne, Charles Birkeland, Ross G. Dwyer, Melanie Frazier, Bradley K. Woodworth, Claudia P. Arango, Michael J. Kingsford, Vinay Udyawer, Pat Hutchings, Elliot Scanes, Emily Jane McClaren, Sara M. Maxwell, Guillermo Diaz-Pulido, Emma Dugan, Blake Alexander Simmons, Amelia S. Wenger, Christi Linardich, Carissa J. Klein
Summary: Marine species and ecosystems are profoundly impacted by human activities such as pollution, fishing, and climate change. This study presents a framework for assessing the vulnerability of marine species to different stressors using life-history traits. The findings highlight the importance of considering the susceptibility of various taxonomic groups to different stressors in predicting marine biodiversity response.
Article
Plant Sciences
Ellie Bergstrom, Jelle Lahnstein, Helen Collins, Tessa M. Page, Vincent Bulone, Guillermo Diaz-Pulido
Summary: Crustose coralline algae (CCA) are important benthic substrate consolidators on coral reefs. This study investigated the effects of ocean acidification and warming on the organic matrix composition of CCA and found that different species exhibit variability in their response to environmental change.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Ellie R. Paine, Damon Britton, Matthias Schmid, Elizabeth A. Brewer, Guillermo Diaz-Pulido, Philip W. Boyd, Catriona L. Hurd
Summary: This study compared the physiological responses of three seaweed species to ocean acidification and found that elevated CO2 concentrations did not benefit their growth and photosynthesis in a future ocean.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Rachael M. Wade, Paul W. Gabrielson, Katharine R. Hind, Jade Shivak, Jeffery R. Hughey, Sou Ohtsu, Masasuke Baba, Kazuhiro Kogame, Sandra C. Lindstrom, Kathy Ann Miller, Soren R. Schipper, Patrick T. Martone
Summary: Partial rbcL sequences were analyzed from type specimens of three early-described Corallina species. The results revealed that C. arbuscula and C. pilulifera are synonymous, with C. pilulifera being the accepted name, and that C. vancouveriensis is a distinct species. Additional species, C. hakodatensis sp. nov. and C. parva sp. nov., were also identified. These findings have important implications for the biogeography, evolution, and speciation patterns of coralline algae.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Paul W. Gabrielson, Gavin W. Maneveldt, Jeffery R. Hughey, Viviana Pena
Summary: Phylogenetic analyses of rbcL gene sequences and concatenated rbcL, psbA, and nuclear SSU rRNA gene sequences identified Lithothamnion muelleri and three other southern Australian species as the generitype of the genus Lithothamnion. Cold water boreal species previously classified in Lithothamnion were transferred to the newly described genus Boreolithothamnion, with B. glaciale as the generitype. The discussion emphasizes the importance of using phylogenetic analyses to understand and correctly classify non-geniculate corallines based on morpho-anatomical characters.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ellie R. Paine, Elizabeth A. Brewer, Matthias Schmid, Guillermo Diaz-Pulido, Philip W. Boyd, Catriona L. Hurd
Summary: The seasonal release patterns of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) by seaweed in the southern hemisphere's temperate regions are influenced by inorganic nitrogen availability, irradiance, and temperature. Laboratory experiments revealed high DOC release rates during spring and summer, which were significantly higher than autumn and winter. The seasonal patterns of DOC release were attributed to photosynthetic overflow and variations in tissue C:N ratios. The dominant seaweed species, Phyllospora comosa, contributed the most to the coastal ocean's DOC release.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
M. A. Abdul Wahab, S. Ferguson, V. K. Snekkevik, G. McCutchan, S. Jeong, A. Severati, C. J. Randall, A. P. Negri, G. Diaz-Pulido
Summary: This study tested the larval settlement responses of 15 coral species to 15 species of crustose coralline algae from the Great Barrier Reef. The results showed that CCA in the family Lithophyllaceae were the best inducers for most coral species. Taxonomic and habitat-specific associations were found, providing optimal coral-algal species pairings to increase the success of larval settlement for reef restoration.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Biology
Ellie R. Paine, Philip W. Boyd, Robert F. Strzepek, Michael Ellwood, Elizabeth A. Brewer, Guillermo Diaz-Pulido, Matthias Schmid, Catriona L. Hurd
Summary: Laboratory experiments show that insufficient iron availability in the open ocean is a major challenge for growing kelp for carbon sequestration. Carbon dioxide removal and emissions reduction are crucial for mitigating climate change. Ocean macroalgal afforestation is a CDR method that involves growing nearshore kelps offshore, but the limitation of dissolved iron supply is overlooked in discussions. The study finds that kelp growth and physiological functions are impaired at oceanic iron concentrations, which are 1000-fold lower than required by the kelp species. Additional iron fertilization may be necessary for successful ocean macroalgal afforestation.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Christopher E. Cornwall, Jeremy Carlot, Oscar Branson, Travis A. Courtney, Ben P. Harvey, Chris T. Perry, Andreas J. Andersson, Guillermo Diaz-Pulido, Maggie D. Johnson, Emma Kennedy, Erik C. Krieger, Jennie Mallela, Sophie J. McCoy, Maggy M. Nugues, Evan Quinter, Claire L. Ross, Emma Ryan, Vincent Saderne, Steeve Comeau
Summary: According to a conceptual model developed from a meta-analysis of calcification rates and a case study in French Polynesia, crustose coralline algae can contribute equal or even larger amounts of calcium carbonate to coral reefs than corals. However, their contribution is often underestimated or omitted in coral reef carbonate budgets. Understanding the drivers of net coral reef calcium carbonate production is crucial due to the threats of ocean warming, acidification, and other anthropogenic stressors.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
So Young Jeong, Paul W. Gabrielson, Jeffery R. Hughey, Andrew S. Hoey, Tae Oh Cho, Muhammad A. Abdul Wahab, Guillermo Diaz-Pulido
Summary: Porolithon is an ecologically important genus of crustose coralline algae, distributed abundantly in tropical and subtropical shallow margins of coral reefs. Sequence comparisons of type specimens and field-collected specimens reveal four unique genetic lineages, suggesting the absence of P. gardineri and P. craspedium in eastern Australia. Furthermore, four new species are discovered, distinguished by growth form, margin shape, and medullary system. Urgent documentation of the taxonomic diversity of Porolithon species is necessary due to their ecological importance and sensitivity to ocean acidification.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Lauri Pulecio-Plaza, Guillermo Diaz-Pulido, Rocio Garcia-Uruena
Summary: Crustose coralline algae (CCA) are important for reef framework construction, but little is known about their growth and calcification in seasonal upwelling systems. This study assessed the growth and calcification rates of two dominant reef-building CCA species in a shallow coral reef in the Colombian Caribbean. Results showed higher growth and calcification rates during the upwelling season compared to the non-upwelling season. Seawater temperature was found to have an inverse relationship with CCA growth and calcification. These findings provide important baseline data and information for monitoring the impacts of environmental changes on tropical upwelling environments.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Paul W. Gabrielson, Jeffery R. Hughey, Viviana Pena, Joseph L. Richards, Gary W. Saunders, Brenton Twist, Tracy Farr, Wendy A. Nelson
Summary: To resolve the uncertainty around taxonomic classification of Sporolithon species, targeted PCR sequencing was conducted on historical and recently collected specimens. The results confirmed the existence of distinct species and identified previously misclassified specimens. DNA sequencing of type specimens of coralline species was shown to be the most reliable method for accurate naming.
Article
Biology
Peter C. Doll, Sven Uthicke, Ciemon F. Caballes, Guillermo Diaz-Pulido, Muhammad A. Abdul Wahab, Bethan J. Lang, So Young Jeong, Morgan S. Pratchett
Summary: Population irruptions of crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) can cause extensive degradation of coral reefs, threatening their structure and function. Our findings demonstrate that various coralline algae species play a role in inducing COTS larvae to settle, but their effectiveness varies greatly. Considering larval behavior and algal ecology, this study highlights the ecological significance of coralline algae communities in driving COTS recruitment patterns.
Article
Plant Sciences
Yvonne Nemcova, Guillermo Diaz-Pulido
Summary: This study aimed to explore the diversity and distribution of silica-scaled chrysophytes in southeastern Queensland. Through morphological observations and water chemical analyses, a total of 35 taxa were identified, including a silica-scaled chrysophyte species originally thought to be endemic to North America. These findings provide valuable floristic data and contribute to the understanding of silica-scaled chrysophytes distribution in Australia.
PLANT SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTION
(2023)