Deep-sea origin and depth colonization associated with phenotypic innovations in scleractinian corals

Campoy, A. N. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6434-4326, Rivadeneira, M. M., Hernández, C. E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9811-2881, Meade, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7095-7711 and Venditti, C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6776-2355 (2023) Deep-sea origin and depth colonization associated with phenotypic innovations in scleractinian corals. Nature Communications, 14. 7458. ISSN 2041-1723 doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-43287-y

Abstract/Summary

The deep sea (>200 m) is home to a surprisingly rich biota, which in some cases compares to that found in shallow areas. Scleractinian corals are an example of this - they are key species in both shallow and deep ecosystems. However, what evolutionary processes resulted in current depth distribution of the marine fauna is a long-standing question. Various conflicting hypotheses have been proposed, but few formal tests have been conducted. Here, we use global spatial distribution data to test the bathymetric origin and colonization trends across the depth gradient in scleractinian corals. Using a phylogenetic approach, we infer the origin and historical trends in directionality and speed of colonization during the diversification in depth. We also examine how the emergence of photo-symbiosis and coloniality, scleractinian corals' most conspicuous phenotypic innovations, have influenced this process. Our results strongly support an offshore-onshore pattern of evolution and varying dispersion capacities along depth associated with trait-defined lineages. These results highlight the relevance of the evolutionary processes occurring at different depths to explain the origin of extant marine biodiversity and the consequences of altering these processes by human impact, highlighting the need to include this overlooked evolutionary history in conservation plans.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/114209
Identification Number/DOI	10.1038/s41467-023-43287-y
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Biological Sciences > Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Uncontrolled Keywords	Biodiversity, Anthozoa, Humans, Phylogeny, Biota, Animals, Ecosystem
Publisher	Nature Publishing Group
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