Title: UNDERSTANDING THE TAXONOMY OF THE MESOPHOTIC CORAL GENUS LEPTOSERIS: THE NEXT CHAPTER

Abstract: Growing interest in mesophotic coral reef ecosystems (MCEs) has stimulated interest in the taxonomy and biology of mesophotic corals. A key example is the agariciid genus Leptoseris which is often a dominant coral in MCEs. Historically, Leptoseris has not been well represented in museum collections, and despite the systematic review of Leptoseris by Dinesen (1980), from a taxonomic perspective it has not been widely studied. However, advances in molecular techniques and integrated systematic approaches, combining molecular and micro-morphological studies with traditional macro-morphological approaches, have enabled new insights into Leptoseris. This integrated taxonomic approach has certainly facilitated understanding of mesophotic agariciid corals such as species of Leptoseris and Pavona in Hawai'i (Luck et al. 2013). However, there have been challenges in reconciling traditional morphological characters with the results of molecular genetic analysis for Leptoseris from other geographic areas. Recent research has also highlighted the importance of access to original type material to resolve key taxonomic questions, such as with L. fragilis, the type species of the genus Leptoseris. Here we provide an update on progress in unravelling the taxonomic status of Leptoseris species, in light of the latest research and following the rediscovery of the three syntypes of L. fragilis.

Authors: Dinesen ZD, Pichon M

Presentation: Poster (#339)

Session: 29

Date: 06/21/16

Time: 18:15 – 19:45

Location: Poster/Exhibit Hall

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