Identifying patterns and drivers of coral diversity in the Central Indo-Pacific marine biodiversity hotspot

• DOI: 10.1017/pab.2017.1
• Publication Date: 2017-04-18T06:28:25Z
• Authors: Morana Mihaljević; Chelsea Korpanty; Willem Renema; Kevin Welsh; John M. Pandolfi
• Keywords: Origination; Biodiversity hotspot; Scleractinia; Indo-Pacific; Anthozoa; Hotspot (geology)

Abstract Biodiversity hotspots are increasingly recognized as areas of high taxonomic and functional diversity. These dynamic shift geographically over time in response to environmental change. To identify drivers the origin, evolution, persistence diversity hotspots, we investigated patterns reef-building corals (Scleractinia) Central Indo-Pacific, a marine biodiversity hotspot for last 25 Myr. We used scleractinian fossil record (based on literature newly acquired collection) examine from Eocene Pliocene. Our data potential coral through (and space) Indo-Pacific by constraining timing turnover events correlating them with known changes. Increases diversity, origination rates, changes abundance character states indicate that origin occurred during Oligocene, initially proliferation pre-existing taxa then new taxa. In contrast overall remained constant results global sea level main driver increase that, together local tectonics, regulates availability suitable habitats. Moreover, develop both accumulation older study demonstrates utility combined literature-based collection approach gaining insights into timing, drivers, development tropical hotspots.