A new species of <i>Zanclea</i> (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) associated with scleractinian corals from Okinawa, Japan

A novel symbiosis between scleractinians and hydroids (Zanclea spp.) was recently discovered using taxonomic approaches for hydroid species identification. In this study, we address the question whether this is a species-specific symbiosis or a cosmopolitan association between Zanclea and its coral hosts. Three molecular markers, including mitochondrial 16S and nuclear 28S ribosomal genes, and internal transcribed spacer (ITS), were utilized to examine the existence of Zanclea species from 14 Acropora species and 4 other Acroporidae genera including 142 coral samples collected from reefs in Kenting and the Penghu Islands, Taiwan, Togian Island, Indonesia, and Osprey Reef and Orpheus Island on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of the 16S and 28S genes showed that Acropora-associated Zanclea was monophyletic, but the genus Zanclea was not. Analysis of the ITS, and 16S and 28S genes showed either identical or extremely low genetic diversity (with mean pairwise distances of 0.009 and 0.006 base substitutions per site for the 16S and 28S genes, respectively) among Zanclea spp. collected from diverse Acropora hosts in different geographic locations, suggesting that a cosmopolitan and probably genus-specific association occurs between Zanclea hydroids and their coral hosts.

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“…These relationships range from epibiotic associations to stricter symbioses (mutualism or parasitism) [5], [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…nov. was found in specific association with the reef-building coral, Acropora muricata , on the Great Barrier Reef [10], [11], and Zanclea sango sp. nov., described from Okinawa, Japan, was associated with 3 other coral species, Pavona divaricata , P. venosa , and Psammocora contigua [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular Evidence Shows Low Species Diversity of Coral-Associated Hydroids in Acropora Corals

et al. 2012

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“…However, the genus is much more speciose than previously thought and new species are discovered regularly. Since Bouillon et al (2006), additional species have been described (see Galea 2008;Pantos and Bythell 2010;Hirose and Hirose 2011;Montano et al 2014a), and new discoveries are expected, particularly in tropical shallow water ecosystems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, Scleractiniaassociated species have been discovered recently in coral reefs environments (Puce et al 2002;Pantos and Bythell 2010;Hirose and Hirose 2011;Montano et al 2013Montano et al , 2014a2015a, b). According to Puce et al (2002), all species in the genus Zanclea live in association with other benthic organisms.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The life cycle of symbiotic Zanclea sessilis (Hydrozoa: Zancleidae) colonies with polymorphic hydranths from the Bay of Biscay

Altuna

2016

Mar Biodiv

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The life cycle of the anthoathecate hydroid Zanclea sessilis (Gosse, 1853) (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa: Zancleidae), symbiotic with colonies of the cheilostomate bryozoan Turbicellepora magnicostata (Barroso, 1919) (Bryozoa: Gymnolaemata), was investigated in the laboratory using material collected in the Basque Country (Spain, southeast of the Bay of Biscay), and its medusae were reared to maturity. The gastrozooids, dactylozooids and the newly released and adult medusae are described and depicted, including their cnidome. The feeding behaviour of the medusae in the cultures is described. The colonies have polymorphic hydranths, and gastrozooids and dactylozooids can be distinguished. The latter are described for the first time in this hydroid, and have been known in the genus Zanclea Gegenbaur, 1857 only in species from the Indo-Pacific. Dactylozooids were observed only once in colonies in the field, although they developed occasionally in colonies kept in aquaria on their original substrate. The interaction between the hydroid and the bryozoan is considered a facultative mutualistic cooperation, as both species can live without forming an association. This interaction is common in the study area, as, in some shallow water environments, up to 65 % of the colonies of T. magnicostata host Z. sessilis.

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Zanclea–coral association: new records from Maldives

et al. 2013

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To date, few hydroids have been observed to be associated with anthozoans, and only three Pacific Zanclea species are known to live in symbiosis with scleractinian corals, namely Zanclea gilii, Z. margaritae, and Z. sango (Boero et al. 2000; Pantos and Bythell 2010; Hirose and Hirose 2011). Here, we report the first evidence of this kind of association in the Indian Ocean. During recent expeditions to Magoodhoo Island (3°04¢N; 72°57¢E, Faafu Atoll, Republic of Maldives), numerous Zanclea spp. colonies were observed to live in symbiosis with scleractinians up to about 10 m depth. Specimens belonging to Zanclea spp. were found not only on Acropora muricata and Pavona sp., which are scleractinians previously known to be involved in this association, but also on coral colonies belonging to Favia favus, Favites halicora, Leptastrea purpurea, Montipora sp., Porites cylindrica, and Symphyllia sp. (Fig. 1a-f). Thus, our results extend the geographic distribution and the host range of this symbiosis, strongly suggesting that associations between hydroids and scleractinians could be much more widespread than previously thought, which is consistent with the scenarios depicted by recent molecular studies (Fontana et al. 2012). The benefits and costs of this symbiosis are still not clear. Although trophic and/or protection mutualism seems a plausible explanation of the relationship, a possible relationship between the occurrence of hydroids and coral diseases has also been proposed (Pantos and Bythell 2010). The potential implications of the hydroid-scleractinian symbiosis for coral health, its wide distribution, and the number of species it involves indicate urgent need for further investigations.

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A new species of Zanclea (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) associated with scleractinian corals from Okinawa, Japan

Cited by 22 publications

References 15 publications

Molecular Evidence Shows Low Species Diversity of Coral-Associated Hydroids in Acropora Corals

Molecular Evidence Shows Low Species Diversity of Coral-Associated Hydroids in Acropora Corals

The life cycle of symbiotic Zanclea sessilis (Hydrozoa: Zancleidae) colonies with polymorphic hydranths from the Bay of Biscay

Zanclea–coral association: new records from Maldives

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