Genetic variation within Symbiodinium clade B from the coral genus Madracis in the Caribbean (Netherlands Antilles)

O.E. Diekmann*, J.L. Olsen, W.T. Stam, R.P M Bak

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    40 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was sequenced in symbiotic dinoflagellates (zooxanthellae) from five morphospecies in the genus Madracis. The phylogeny of the symbionts is congruent with a companion phylogeny of the coral host. Comparison with known clade B symbiont ITS types reveals that M. mirabilis contains the B13 symbiont and that the other morphospecies contain the B7 symbiont. Madracis formosa also contains a previously undescribed type. The B7 and B13 symbionts appear to be highly specific to morphospecies in the genus Madracis. The host specificity between the B13 symbionts and its coral host may be the result of co-evolution of the coral-symbiont association and suggests that the brooding species, M. mirabilis, is reproductively isolated. Microhabitat differentiation associated with light utilization independent of depth is discussed.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)29-33
    Number of pages5
    JournalCoral Reefs
    Volume22
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Apr-2003

    Keywords

    • Madracis
    • Symbiodinium
    • internal transcribed spacer (ITS)
    • host specificity
    • ZOOXANTHELLAE
    • DIVERSITY
    • ECOLOGY
    • REEF
    • CLASSIFICATION
    • IDENTIFICATION
    • SPECIATION
    • EVOLUTION
    • SYMBIOSES
    • DNA

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