A5073210469- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Marine and fisheries research
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Cephalopods and Marine Biology
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
- Marine animal studies overview
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Crustacean biology and ecology
- Geological and Geophysical Studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
- earthquake and tectonic studies
- Geological and Geochemical Analysis
- Plant and Fungal Species Descriptions
- Geological and Tectonic Studies in Latin America
- Botany and Geology in Latin America and Caribbean
- Marine Sponges and Natural Products
- Geological formations and processes
- Morphological variations and asymmetry
- Geological and Geophysical Studies Worldwide
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
University of Iowa
2009-2022
Field Museum of Natural History
1999-2010
University of Chicago
1998-2010
University of Kansas
2010
University of the Virgin Islands
2010
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
2008
Natural History Museum
2008
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
2008
State Street (United States)
2007
Geological Survey of Alabama
1999-2002
Molecular analyses are transforming our understanding of the evolution scleractinian corals and conflict with traditional classification, which is based on skeletal morphology. A new classification system, integrates molecular morphological data, essential for documenting patterns biodiversity establishing priorities marine conservation, as well providing characters needed linking present-day fossil species. The present monograph first in a series whose goal to develop such an integrated...
Modern hard corals (Class Hexacorallia; Order Scleractinia) are widely studied because of their fundamental role in reef building and superb fossil record extending back to the Triassic. Nevertheless, interpretations evolutionary relationships have been flux for over a decade. Recent analyses undermine legitimacy traditional suborders, families genera, suggest that non-skeletal sister clade (Order Corallimorpharia) might be imbedded within stony corals. However, these studies either sampled...
Abstract The three members of the Montastraea annularis complex (M. annularis, M. franksi, and faveolata) are dominant reef builders in western Atlantic whose species status has been controversial for over a decade. Although differences colony morphology reproductive characteristics exist, interspecific fertilizations possible laboratory genetic differentiation is slight. Here we compare taxa genetically morphologically Panama Bahamas, widely separated locations spanning most their...
Modern coral taxonomy has begun to resolve many long-standing problems in traditional systematics stemming from its reliance on skeletal macromorphology. By integrating examinations of colony, corallite, and subcorallite morphology with the molecular sequence data that have proliferated last decade, taxa spread across scleractinian tree life been incorporated into a rigorous classification underpinned by greater phylogenetic understanding. This monograph focuses one most challenging clades...
The reduction in coral cover on many contemporary tropical reefs suggests a different set of community assemblages will dominate future reefs. To evaluate the capacity reef corals to persist over various time scales, we examined dynamics contemporary, fossil, and simulated ecosystems. Based studies between 1987 2012 at two locations Caribbean, 1981 2013 five Indo-Pacific, show that genera declined abundance, some showed no change few increased abundance. Whether abundance genus declined,...
To document evolutionary patterns in late Cenozoic Caribbean reef corals, we compiled composite stratigraphic ranges of 49 genera and 175 species using Neogene occurrences the Cibao Valley sequence northern Dominican Republic faunal lists for 24 Miocene to Recent sites across region. This new compilation benefits particular from increased sampling at early Pleistocene resolution greater taxonomic consistency provided by use morphometric procedures recognition. Preliminary examination...
We analyze a new compilation of Neogene to Recent (22-0 Ma) Caribbean coral occurrences determine how ecological and life history traits at the population level affect long-term evolutionary patterns. The consists 175 species 49 genera in one continuous (> 5 m.y.) sequence 22 scattered sites across region. Previous study rates using these data has shown that both extinction origination were accelerated between 4 1 Ma, resulting large-scale faunal turnover. Categories for three...
The relationship between natural variations in coral species diversity, reef development, and ecosystem function on reefs is poorly understood. Recent diversity varies 10-fold among geographic regions, but rates of growth are broadly similar, suggesting that unimportant for development. Differences may reflect regional differences long-term biotic history addition to environmental conditions. Using a combination new published fossil stratigraphic data, we compared changes development within...
Conservation priorities are calculated on the basis of species richness, endemism, and threats. However, areas ranked highly for these factors may not represent regions maximal evolutionary potential. The relationship between geography innovation was analyzed in a dominant complex Caribbean reef corals, which morphological genetic data concur differences. Based geometric morphometrics Pleistocene corals genetically characterized modern colonies, we found that disparity varies from center to...
Recent advances in scleractinian systematics and taxonomy have been achieved through the integration of molecular morphological data, as well rigorous analysis using phylogenetic methods. In this study, we continue our pursuit a classification by examining evolutionary relationships between closely related reef coral genera M erulina , G oniastrea P araclavarina S capophyllia (Merulinidae). particular, address extreme polyphyly F avites that was discovered decade ago. We sampled 145...
Abstract Statistical analyses of occurrence data derived from new collections through scattered Caribbean sections indicate that increased speciation preceded a pulse extinction during regional turnover the reef coral fauna in Plio-Pleistocene time. The are based on samples were newly collected and identified to species using standardized procedures. Age-dates assigned high-resolution chronostratigraphic methods. results show with wide range ecological traits originated added pool as much...
Oceanographic changes caused by the emerging Central American isthmus, which completely severed connections between Caribbean Sea and tropical Pacific Ocean about 3.5 million years ago, began to stimulate evolution of reef corals benthic foraminifera in Late Miocene. At that time, first appearances increased, especially those species strongly associated with carbonate-rich substrata; diversified dramatically; carbonate content southern deep-sea sediments increased. We suggest marine...
Abstract Recent molecular analyses have challenged the traditional classification of scleractinian corals at all taxonomic levels suggesting that new morphological characters are needed. Here we tackle this problem for family Mussidae, which is polyphyletic. Most its members belong to two clades composed of: (1) Atlantic Mussidae and Faviidae (except Montastraea ) (2) Pacific ( Cynarina , Lobophyllia Scolymia Symphyllia Pectiniidae. Other mussids (e.g. Acanthastrea additional clades. To...
Abstract Recent molecular phylogenies conflict with traditional scleractinian classification at ranks ranging from suborder to genus, challenging morphologists discover new characters that better agree data. Such are essential for including fossils in analyses and tracing evolutionary patterns through geologic time. We examine the skeletal morphology of 36 species belonging families Faviidae, Merulinidae, Pectiniidae, Trachyphylliidae (3 Atlantic, 14 Indo‐Pacific, 2 cosmopolitan genera)...
The risk of global extinction reef-building coral species is increasing. We evaluated using a biological trait-based resiliency index that was compared with Caribbean during the Plio-Pleistocene, and determined by International Union for Conservation Nature (IUCN). Through supported more diverse assemblages than today shared considerable overlap contemporary Indo-Pacific reefs. A clear association found between extant Plio-Pleistocene genera our positive resilience scores. Regional in past...
A few marine cases have demonstrated morphological and genetic divergence in the absence of spatial barriers to gene flow, suggesting that initial phase speciation is possible without geographic isolation. In Bocas del Toro Archipelago Atlantic Coast Panama, we found two morphotypes scleractinian coral Favia fragum with opposing depth distributions. One morphotype fit classical description F. was most abundant at 3 m depth. second distinguished by raised corallites restricted ≤ 1 The...
For comments on taxonomy, we thank S. D. Cairns, B. W. Hoeksema, and R. Rosen. We appreciate the following for assistance with museum loans, cataloguing information, specimen photographs: T. Adrain (SUI), K. Chua Tan (ZRC), A. J. Baldinger (MCZ), Andouche P. Lozouet (MNHN), C. Wallace, Done, Muir (MTQ), G. Darrell, Johnson, N. Santodomingo, H. Taylor (NHMUK), Paulay (UF), Y. Licuanan Luzon (UP), Coffer, Walter (USNM), Z. Richards (WAM), Lueter, Loch, Loch (ZMB), M. V. Sorensen Tottrup...
Morphologic discrimination of species scleractinian reef corals has long been plagued by a shortage independent characters and high ecophenotypic plasticity. Because these two factors, many appear to intergrade morphologically. We outline newly developed protocol for the morphometric recognition species, which uses size shape coordinates derived from landmark data. The landmarks consist spatially homologous points digitized in three dimensions on upper calical surfaces. approach is more...
Abstract Aim The current assessment of extinction risk in reef corals by the International Union for Conservation Nature (IUCN) has been criticized, because coral life‐history traits associated with resilience are not reflected conservation status. We aimed to carry out a quantitative link between and species informed extinctions observed fossil record. Location Global. Time period Plio‐Pleistocene present day. Major taxa studied Scleractinian corals. Methods used morphological traits,...