New insights into the genetic diversity of zooxanthellae in Mediterranean anthozoans

Casado-Amezua, Pilar; Machordom, Annie; Bernardo, Joao; Gonzalez-Wanguemert, Mercedes

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/8722

Use this identifier to reference this record.

Name:	Description:	Size:	Format:
Casado-Amezua et al Symbiosis 2014.pdf		385.22 KB	Adobe PDF	Download

Send Feedback

Authors

Casado-Amezua, Pilar

Machordom, Annie

Bernardo, Joao

Gonzalez-Wanguemert, Mercedes

Abstract(s)

Symbiotic dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium, also called zooxanthellae, are found in association with a wide diversity of shallow-water anthozoans. The Symbiodinium genus includes numerous lineages, also referred to as clades or phylotypes, as well as a wide diversity of genetic sub-clades and sub-phylotypes. There are few studies characterizing the genetic diversity of zooxanthellae in Mediterranean anthozoans. In this study, we included anthozoans from the Western Mediterranean Sea and by means of internal transcriber (ITS) and large sub-unit (LSU) rRNA markers we corroborate what has been previously identified, demonstrating that phylotype “Temperate A” is very common among host Cnidaria in this basin. Our finding of fixed differences in ITS and LSU markers that correspond to different host taxa, indicate that this clade may comprise several closely-related species.