2016 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report
Global evolution of Brachycnemina and their Symbiodinium
| Project/Area Number |
16H04834
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| Research Institution | University of the Ryukyus |
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Principal Investigator |
Reimer J・D 琉球大学, 理学部, 准教授 (20452956)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
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| Keywords | スナギンチャク類 / 共生 / 進化 / 共進会 / 褐虫藻 |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
In FYH28, as planned, we collected or received Brachycnemina specimens from the Central Ryukyus. We also fortuitously received specimens from Jeju (Korea) and the Sea of Japan. Records of these specimens became an important piece of data on range expansions for zooxanthellate Zoanthus sansibaricus (Reimer et al. 2016 Mar Biodiv).
Our morphological and functional analyses on Atlantic/Pacific Brachycnemina species began. Initial results (unpublished) suggest sibling species possess similar Symbiodinium, suggesting the retainment of Symbiodinium species within lineages, a necessary condition for co-evolution.
For molecular analyses, we decided to focus on two widespread sibling species that are easy to identify in the field, Palythoa tuberculosa (Indo-Pacific) and P. cariboraeum (Atlantic), and Z. sansibaricus (IP) and Z. sociatus (A). Our molecular analyses of Symbiodinium began quickly, utilizing methods from our recent Red Sea Symbiodinum work. These results showed differences in symbiont type correlated with sea surface temperature (Reimer et al. 2017 J Biogeo), and are an important template for work in this project.
We presented results from our work at the Pacific Science Congress and the International Coral Reef Symposium, and 3 other international conferences.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
Although we made excellent progress in FY2016, with 3 scientific papers accepted (Reimer et al. 2016 Mar Biodiv, Fujii & Reimer 2016 book chapter, Wee et al. 2017 RSMS), and progressed as expected with morphological and functional ecology analyses, we could not visit Costa Rica as planned due to our collaborator's schedule. We therefore applied for some funding deferment to FY2017.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
In upcoming FY2017, we will collect specimens from Costa Rica (from 2016 plans) as well as the Red Sea and other areas as opportunities arise. We will continue on morphological analyses of sibling species, and functional ecology using stable isotopes on both zoantharians and Symbiodinium. We will push to submit scientific papers and present our scientific results at conferences.
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