2017 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 / 共進化 / 褐虫藻 |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
In FY2017, we collected Zoantharia specimens from Costa Rica (both Atlantic + Pacific sides), the Red Sea, New Caledonia, the South China Sea, and within Japan. The Costa Rica sampling was deferred from FY2016. Thus, our research schedule for sampling is back on schedule as in our original plan. Sampling trips resulted in many new Zoantharia records and papers (Reimer et al. 2017 RSMS, Reimer et al. 2017 Mar Biodiv).
For morphological and ecological analyses, we continued on with work started in FY2016. We also conducted stable isotope analyses of Symbiodinium and the host Zoantharia, showing that most zoantharians are mixotrophic, with Symbiodinium niches smaller for specific symbionts and larger for generalist types. We also showed generalist Palythoa species possess both generalist and multiple types of Symbiodinium; one large manuscript is now under preparation, and one showing such results within Okinawa Island for the species Palythoa tuberculosa was published (Noda et al. 2017 PeerJ).
Additionally, our molecular results clearly show sibling species exist for at least Zoanthus and Palythoa genera (and for non-brachycneminic genera too), and the sibling species exist within the same general ecological niche. Most sibling species likely have some form of co-evolution with Symbiodinium.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
1: Research has progressed more than it was originally planned.
Reason
We were able to catch up from the slight delay in the previous FY2016. As well, we were able to publish numerous papers in FY2017 and advance on multiple fronts, and the research is progressing even faster and more smoothly than expected.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
In FY2018, we will collect specimens from South Africa, thus completing our sampling scheme. Morphological, ecological, and molecular results will continue to be generated and analyses run, including co-evolutionary and global phylogenetic analyses. We aim to have all proposed analyses done by the end of the FY2018.
Results generated will be presented at international conferences and submitted to leading scientific journals.
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