Comparison of Symbiodiniaceae diversities in different members of a Palythoa species complex (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Zoantharia)—implications for ecological adaptations to different microhabitats

A study comparing Symbiodiniaceae diversities among closely related Palythoa species in the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan, revealed distinct genotypic compositions of Cladocopium symbionts associated with different Palythoa species and microhabitats. The research, focusing on P. tuberculosa, P. sp. yoron, and P. mutuki, used nuclear ITS and plastid psbA ncr markers to analyze genetic variations. Findings suggest that ecological divergence among these species may be linked to differences in Symbiodiniaceae diversity, which could contribute to their adaptation to varying microhabitats on coral reefs.

Mizuyama, M., Iguchi, A., Iijima, M., Gibu, K., & Reimer, J. D. (2020). Comparison of Symbiodiniaceae diversities in different members of a Palythoa species complex (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Zoantharia)—implications for ecological adaptations to different microhabitats. PeerJ, 8, e8449. Portico. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.8449