Histological data in a combined phylogenetic analysis of scleractinian reef corals

Abstract

Scleractinian systematics have undergone rapid changes due to increased use of molecular phylogenetics and new perspectives on skeletal morphology from micromorphology and microstructure. Despite this increase in characters there are still unresolved clades in the phylogeny, indicating that more characters are needed. This study investigates a new source of morphological data within the soft tissue of Indo-Pacific scleractinian corals. Features of tissue layers, especially cnidocytes, are described in hematoxylin and eosin stained thin sections. Based on this new histological data source, a combined analysis with mitochondrial DNA and skeletal data is performed using parsimony and Bayesian analysis. Parsimony analysis yields three most-parsimonious trees similar to trees based on Bayesian analysis. Character maps are also produced that show origination of histomorphological traits at deep nodes within the phylogeny. In general, both analyses retain the previously designated families Lobophylliidae and Merulinidae, but some genera are found to be paraphyletic. Nonetheless, the combined analysis produces a highly resolved and well-supported phylogeny, which could lead to more effective use of biological conservation metrics based on evolutionary distinctiveness. These results show for the first time that inclusion of histomorphological characters improves the resolution of phylogenetic analyses of reef corals.

Evaluating the role of morphological characters in the phylogeny of some trypanosomatid genera (Excavata, Kinetoplastea, Trypanosomatida)

“…In some cases, both kinds of data provide complementary phylogenetic signals improving previously unresolved relationships or raising new questions, otherwise unseen (e.g. Andreasen and Bremer, 2000;Sørensen and Giribet, 2006;Heethoff et al, 2011;Heikkil€ a et al, 2015;Cordie and Budd, 2016).…”

Composition and biological activities of the aqueous extracts of three scleractinian corals from the Mexican Caribbean: Pseudodiploria strigosa, Porites astreoides and Siderastrea siderea

“…Scleractinian corals, also called stony corals, are the most abundant reef-forming cnidarians found in coral reefs throughout the world [8]. In an earlier study, variable toxicity was found in several scleractinian corals from the Great Barrier Reef [9].…”