Diversity, distribution, and environmental drivers of coralline red algae: the major reef builders in the Southwestern Atlantic

Author(s):Show less -

Sissini, Marina Nasri ^{[1, 2]} ; Koerich, Gabrielle ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; De Barros-Barreto, Maria Beatriz ^[4] ; Coutinho, Luana M. ^[5] ; Gomes, Fernanda P. ^[5] ; Oliveira, William ^[2] ; Costa, Iara O. ^[6] ; de Castro Nunes, Jose Marcos ^[7] ; Henriques, Maria Carolina ^[5] ; Vieira-Pinto, Talita ^[8] ; Torrano-Silva, Beatriz N. ^[8] ; Oliveira, Mariana Cabral ^[8] ; Le Gall, Line ^[9] ; Horta, Paulo Antunes ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Santa Catarina, Programa Posgrad Ecol, BR-88040970 Florianopolis, SC - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Santa Catarina, Dept Bot, Lab Ficol, BR-88040970 Florianopolis, SC - Brazil

^[3] Univ Canterbury, Sch Biol Sci, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140 - New Zealand

^[4] Univ Fed Rio de Janeiro, Lab Ficol, Rua Prof Rodolpho P Rocco 211, Bloco A, BR-21941902 Rio De Janeiro, RJ - Brazil

^[5] Univ Fed Rio de Janeiro, Museu Nacl, BR-20940040 Rio De Janeiro, RJ - Brazil

^[6] Univ Estadual Feira de Santana, Programa Posgrad Bot, Av Transnordestina, BR-44031460 Feira De Santana, BA - Brazil

^[7] Univ Fed Bahia, Inst Biol, Lab Algas Marinhas LAMAR, Rua Barao de Jeremoabo S-N, BR-40170115 Salvador, BA - Brazil

^[8] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biociencias, Dept Bot, Rua Matao 277, BR-05508090 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[9] Sorbonne Univ, Inst Systemat Evolut Biodiversite ISYEB, Museum Natl Hist Nat, CNRS, EPHE, Univ Antilles, 57 Rue Cuvier, CP 39, F-75005 Paris - France

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: CORAL REEFS; AUG 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Coralline red algae (CRA) are key players in the construction and maintenance of biogenic reefs, and they have important functional roles in ecological systems in the Southwestern Atlantic (SWA). Like many other marine organisms, CRA are currently affected by global and local stressors, but little is known about their biodiversity and the environmental drivers that influence their distribution patterns in the SWA. In the present study, we quantified the species richness of CRA in six ecoregions within the SWA using DNA-based species delimitation methods. We then verified their distribution and identified the main drivers shaping the macroecological patterns of richness and beta-diversity. We found 79 phylogenetic species that belong to the three main CRA orders (Sporolithales, Corallinales, and Hapalidiales), in the tropical and warm temperate SWA. Temperature, nutrients, and water current velocity were the main environmental drivers of CRAs in the evaluated ecoregions. The Eastern Brazil ecoregion stands out due to its high richness, exclusive species, beta-diversity between ecoregions, and as a transitional zone of the SWA. The results of our study have several important practical implications with repercussions for monitoring actions and conservation planning for the coastal region. These results show that each ecoregion has unique characteristics, and the mesophotic habitat is of primary importance because it harbors species that are not found in other habitats, and because it provides structural connectivity with shallower habitats. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/05076-2 - Taxonomy and phylogeny of the Sporolithales from Brazil
• Grantee: Talita Vieira Pinto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 13/11833-3 - Diversity and phylogeny of red algae (Rhodophyta) of economic and ecological importance
• Grantee: Mariana Cabral de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 10/19234-3 - Taxonomy and phylogeny from the subfamily Lithophylloideae in Brazil.
• Grantee: Beatriz Nogueira Torrano da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate