From coral reefs into the abyss: the evolution of corallivory in the Coralliophilinae (Neogastropoda, Muricidae)
Nocella, E.; Fassio, G.; Zuccon, D.; Puillandre, N.; Modica, M.V.; Oliverio, M. (2024). From coral reefs into the abyss: the evolution of corallivory in the Coralliophilinae (Neogastropoda, Muricidae). Coral Reefs 43(5): 1285-1302. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00338-024-02537-1
In: Coral Reefs. Springer: Berlin; Heidelberg; New York. ISSN 0722-4028; e-ISSN 1432-0975, more
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| Author keywords |
Host–parasite interactions, corallivory, Cnidaria, Gastropods, Coevolution, Molecular phylogeny |
| Authors | | Top |
- Nocella, E.
- Fassio, G.
- Zuccon, D.
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- Puillandre, N.
- Modica, M.V.
- Oliverio, M.
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| Abstract |
In this study, we delved into the interaction between corallivorous marine gastropods, the muricid Cor?alliophilinae Chenu, 1859, and their cnidarian food targets. Coralliophilinae is a subfamily of specialised corallivo?rous caenogastropods that feed by browsing on octocorals or hexacorals. Only sparse information is available on the phylogenetic relationships and the degree of specifcity of the trophic relationships within this corallivorous lineage. To address these gaps, we generated the largest molecular dataset to date, comprising two mitochondrial (cox1 and 16S rDNA) and one nuclear gene (ITS2 rDNA) from 586 specimens collected worldwide. The coral hosts of coral?liophilines were identifed through an integrative approach, combining literature data with new records, employing morphological and/or molecular markers, and incorporating data from DNA barcoding of the snail stomach content. Our comprehensive approach unveiled the existence of numer?ous cryptic species in Coralliophilinae, while the phylogeny showed that most of the currently accepted genera are not monophyletic. The molecular dating confrmed the origin of the Coralliophilinae in Middle Eocene, with diversifcation of most lineages during the Miocene. Our results indicate that the subfamily’s ancestor evolved in shallow waters in association with Scleractinia. Through the evolutionary his?tory of Coralliophilinae, multiple host shifts to other cnidar?ian orders were observed, not correlated with changes in the depth range. The results of diversifcation analyses within the subfamily further suggest that the association with the host has infuenced the evolutionary patterns of Corallio?philinae, but not vice versa. |
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