Browsing by Author "Bourhis, Aude Le"
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- A DNA barcoding approach to assess coral species richness and biogeographic affinities of Hexa- and Octocorallia in Cabo VerdePublication . Bourhis, Aude Le; Serrão, Ester; Neiva, João; Cabezas, Pilar; Hillebrand, Aschwin Engelen; Coelho, MarcioCoral reefs are the most biodiverse marine ecosystems on earth. Often described as biodiversity hotspots, they cover less than 1% of the ocean floor but host more than 25% of all marine species. However, coral reefs are undergoing massive degradation around the world, prompting a need for further studies on global coral populations to support their protection. Tropical reefs in particular, are essential for biodiversity but are understudied in many parts of the world and therefore insufficiently understood. This is the case in Cabo Verde, currently listed as 8th among endangered biodiversity hotspots. With less than 1% of national waters protected, the archipelago lacks data and knowledge on its species diversity, a regional tendency for West Africa. Thus, this study aimed to assess shallow coral species richness (< 50m depth) and consolidate current species diversity knowledge within Cabo Verde, to reveal cryptic species before they might become threatened or disappear. While 21 species were morphologically identified, molecular methods were used to build the first DNA barcode library for Cabo Verde’s hexacorals and octocorals. The use of complementary mitochondrial (COX1 and MutS) and nuclear (28S) DNA markers, field identification, and litterature-based species lists helped to successfully identify 27 samples to the species level and three others to the genus level, which previously had only been morphologically identified. Balanopsammia wirtzi constituted a new barcode for the region and the alien species Carijoa riisei was confirmed through barcoding of mitochondrial COI and nuclear 28S genes. Phylogenies confirmed biogeographic affinities of three out of the four dominating hermatypic species (S. radians, P. porites, P. astreoides) to be closely related to the Caribbean. The study also revealed noteworthy differences in species richness between Cabo Verde and the other Macaronesian archipelagos, sharing a few common species throughout the Scleractinia and Antipatharia order and only the species Eunicella verrucosa in the order Alcyonacea. None of the dominating four hermatypic species in Cabo Verde could be found in any other of the Macaronesia islands. This research represents one of the first attempts, and the most exhaustive one to date, to characterize the coral species composition of Cabo Verde using DNA barcoding, and produced a geographically referenced coral DNA catalog baseline that will inform further research, education and conservation initiatives.