Published Papers - Reimer James Davis

Unique combinations of coral host and algal symbiont genotypes reflect intraspecific variation in heat stress responses among colonies of the reef-building coral, Montipora digitata

Javid Kavousi, Vianney Denis, Victoria Sharp, James Davis Reimer, Takashi Nakamura, John Everett Parkinson

Marine Biology ( Springer Science and Business Media LLC )  167 ( 2 )   2020.02 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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First records of the genus Sphenopus from temperate waters and lower mesophotic depths

Hiroki Kise, Takuo Higashiji, Masanori Nonaka, Daisuke Uyeno, James Davis Reimer

Marine Biodiversity ( Springer Science and Business Media LLC )  50 ( 1 )   2020.02 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Knock knock, who's there?: marine invertebrates in tubes of Ceriantharia (Cnidaria: Anthozoa).

Ceriello H, Lopes CSS, Reimer JD, Bakken T, Fukuda MV, Cunha CM, Stampar SN

Biodiversity data journal ( Pensoft Publishers )  8   e47019   2020 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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This study reports on the fauna found in/on tubes of 10 species of Ceriantharia and discusses the characteristics of these occurrences, as well as the use of mollusc shells in ceriantharian tube construction. A total of 22 tubes of Ceriantharia from Argentina, Brazil, Japan, Norway, Portugal and the United States were analysed, revealing 58 species of marine invertebrates using them as alternative substrates. Based on a literature review and analyses of the sampled material, we report new occurrences for <italic>Photis sarae</italic> (Crustacea), <italic>Microgaza rotella</italic> (Mollusca), <italic>Brada</italic> sp., <italic>Dipolydora</italic> spp., <italic>Notocirrus</italic> spp., and <italic>Syllis garciai</italic> (Annelida). The use of mollusc shells in tube construction increases the tubes’ structural resistance and strength. Ceriantharian tubes are suitable alternative substrates for the dwelling of numerous tubicolous and infaunal species that usually burrow into sediments or anchor on fixed or mobile habitats seeking shelter, thus playing a relevant role as local biodiversity hotspots.

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Coral cover and rubble cryptofauna abundance and diversity at outplanted reefs in Okinawa, Japan.

Biondi P, Masucci GD, Reimer JD

PeerJ ( PeerJ )  8   e9185 - e9185   2020 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Global climate change is leading to damage and loss of coral reef ecosystems. On subtropical Okinawa Island in southwestern Japan, the prefectural government is working on coral reef restoration by outplanting coral colonies from family Acroporidae back to reefs after initially farming colonies inside protected nurseries. In order to establish a baseline for future comparisons, in this study we documented the current status of reefs undergoing outplanting at Okinawa Island, and nearby locations where no human manipulation has occurred. We examined three sites on the coast of Onna Village on the west coast of the island; each site included an outplanted and control location. We used (1) coral rubble sampling to measure and compare abundance and diversity of rubble cryptofauna; and (2) coral reef monitoring using Line Intercept Transects to track live coral coverage. Results showed that rubble shape had a positive correlation with the numbers of animals found within rubble themselves and may therefore constitute a reliable abundance predictor. Each outplanted location did not show differences with the corresponding control location in terms of rubble cryptofauna abundance, but outplanted locations had significantly lower coral coverage. Overall, differences between sites (Maeganeku1, Maeganeku2 and Manza, each including both outplanted and control locations) were significant, for both rubble cryptofauna and coral coverage. We recommend (1) to outplant colonies from more stress-resistant genera in place of <italic>Acropora</italic>, and (2) to conduct regular surveys to monitor the situation closely. With a lack of baseline data preceding impacts, rigorous monitoring over time can highlight trends towards increases or decreases in evaluated variables, allowing to obtain a clearer idea of the effects of transplants and on the trajectory of impacts due to climate change and local stressors . Finally, we also recommend (3) to establish conservation and sustainable practices that could aid the ongoing restoration efforts such as installing anchoring buoys to reduce impacts from anchoring, which could reduce coral mortality of both outplanted and native coral colonies.

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Comparison of Symbiodiniaceae diversities in different members of a <i>Palythoa</i> species complex (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Zoantharia)-implications for ecological adaptations to different microhabitats.

Mizuyama M, Iguchi A, Iijima M, Gibu K, Reimer JD

PeerJ ( PeerJ )  8 ( 2 ) e8449   2020 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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In this study we compared genotypes of zoantharian host-associating algal symbionts among Palythoa species, which are among the dominant benthic reef organisms in the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan, and evaluated Symbiodiniaceae diversities of closely related congeneric Palythoa species. We targeted a species complex of the zoantharian genus Palythoa (P. tuberculosa, P. sp. yoron, P. mutuki) living among different microhabitats in a narrow reef area of Tokunoshima Island. For phylogenetic analyses, we used two DNA marker regions; nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and plastid mini-circle non-coding region (psbAncr), both of which have previously been used to determine Symbiodiniaceae genotypes of zoantharian species. Our results showed that all Palythoa species hosted symbionts of the genus Cladocopium, with genotypic compositions of this genus showing some variations among the three different Palythoa species. Additionally, we found that the Cladocopium genotypic composition was statistically different among Palythoa species, and among P. tuberculosa specimens in different microhabitats. Our results suggest that ecological divergence among these three Palythoa species may be related to differing Symbiodiniaceae diversities that may in turn contribute to eco-physiological adaptation into different microhabitats on coral reefs.

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A sea pen field in shallow water in the Amakusa Islands, southern Japan

KUSHIDA YUKA, KISE HIROKI, MCFADDEN CATHERINE S., REIMER JAMES DAVIS

Plankton and Benthos Research ( 日本プランクトン学会、日本ベントス学会 )  15 ( 3 ) 259 - 268   2020 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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<p>Sea pens are ecologically important habitats for associated marine organisms, serving as ecosystem engineers in sandy or muddy seafloor environments. In such areas, sea pens can form habitats with high population densities known as "sea pen fields". However, the presence and importance of sea pen fields have not been well studied in shallow waters in East Asia. Here, we report a sea pen field of <i>Virgularia</i> sp. aff. <i>gustaviana</i> in the shallow waters of Ushibuka Marine Park, in the Amakusa Islands of southern Japan. The average colony numbers of the field across all depths (7–20 m) was 10.3 colonies/m² (live colonies) to 13.6 colonies/m² (all: live+dead colonies+holes), and the area of the sea pen field was at least ∼50,000 m². At a depth of 15 m, the substratum consisted of sand and fallen leaves of terrestrial origin, and the highest sea pen density was observed (averages=17.2 live colonies/m², =25.8 total (live+dead+holes) colonies/m²). At a depth of 20 m, the substratum consisted of broken shells and rocks and had the lowest density (live colonies: average=0.8 colonies/m², all: average=1.0 colonies/m²). There were significant differences in colony number of <i>Virgularia</i> sp. aff. <i>gustaviana</i> between the "sand", "sand+leaves", and "broken shells/rocks" substrates. We hypothesize that the strength of the water currents caused by local geographic features and tidal movements produce suitable sedimentation and habitat for this species of sea pen. Therefore, we suggest that preserving the natural coastline is crucial to protect this and other sea pen fields in shallow waters and their benthic marine communities.</p>

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Corrigenda: <i>Hanah</i>, a replacement name for <i>Hana</i> Lau, Stokvis, Ofwegen &amp; Reimer, 2018 (preoccupied name).

Lau YW, Stokvis FR, van Ofwegen L, Reimer JD

ZooKeys ( ZooKeys )  918 ( 918 ) 161 - 162   2020

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Evolution and biogeography of the Zanclea-Scleractinia symbiosis

Maggioni D.

Coral Reefs ( Coral Reefs )    2020 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Crown-of-thorns starfish outbreak at oceanic Dongsha Atoll in the northern South China Sea

Reimer J,H Kise, HB Wee, CL Lee, K Soong

Marine Biodiversity ( Marine Biodiversity )  49 ( 6 ) 2495 - 2497   2019.12 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Population differentiation across small distances in a coral reef-associated vermetid (Ceraesignum maximum) in Palau

Soliman T.

Coral Reefs ( Coral Reefs )  38 ( 6 ) 1159 - 1172   2019.12 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Despite being one of the world's leading countries in coral reef conservation and management, very little data exist for coral reef-associated species in the island nation of Palau, hampering managers' ability to more effectively protect coral reef ecosystems.Here we examine populations of the vermetid Ceraesignum maximum, a common species on coral reefs, with short or absent pelagic larval stage, in order to elucidate patterns of gene flow within Palauan reefs. We collected specimens (n = 582) from 20 sites across Palau. Cytochrome oxidase subunit I analyses show private haplotypes at all sites examined, with a clear separation between outer and inner reef locations, and a unique population within isolated Nikko Bay. Oceanographic isolation between the waters of Nikko Bay, inner and outer reefs may contribute to our observed genetic differentiation. Our results indicate past demographic expansion of C. maximum across the region and also indicate that multiple sites of both inner and outer reef locations would need to be protected to conserve this species' genetic diversity, including unique Nikko Bay. These results demonstrate the utility of C. maximum as a good species to investigate gene flow across small scales (< 10 km) as seen in Palau.

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A molecular phylogeny of carcinoecium-forming Epizoanthus (Hexacorallia: Zoantharia) from the Western Pacific Ocean with descriptions of three new species

Hiroki Kise, Javier Montenegro, Merrick Ekins, Takeya Moritaki, James Davis Reimer

Systematics and Biodiversity ( Informa UK Limited )  17 ( 8 ) 773 - 786   2019.11 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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First record of “polyp-ball colonies” produced by Zoanthus sociatus (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Zoantharia)

González-Muñoz R, A Garese, FH Acuna, JD Reimer, N Simoes

Marine Biodiversity ( Marine Biodiversity )  49 ( 5 ) 2197 - 2198   2019.10 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Morphological and phylogenetic diversity of Waminoa and similar flatworms (Acoelomorpha) in the western Pacific Ocean.

Kunihiro S, Farenzena Z, Hoeksema BW, Groenenberg DSJ, Hermanto B, Reimer JD

Zoology (Jena, Germany) ( Zoology )  136   125692   2019.10 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Phylogenetic relationships among the clownfish-hosting sea anemones

Titus B.M.

Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution ( Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution )  139   106526 - 106526   2019.10 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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The clownfish-sea anemone symbiosis has been a model system for understanding fundamental evolutionary and ecological processes. However, our evolutionary understanding of this symbiosis comes entirely from studies of clownfishes. A holistic understanding of a model mutualism requires systematic, biogeographic, and phylogenetic insight into both partners. Here, we conduct the largest phylogenetic analysis of sea anemones (Order Actiniaria) to date, with a focus on expanding the biogeographic and taxonomic sampling of the 10 nominal clownfish-hosting species. Using a combination of mtDNA and nuDNA loci we test (1) the monophyly of each clownfish-hosting family and genus, (2) the current anemone taxonomy that suggests symbioses with clownfishes evolved multiple times within Actiniaria, and (3) whether, like the clownfishes, there is evidence that host anemones have a Coral Triangle biogeographic origin. Our phylogenetic reconstruction demonstrates widespread poly- and para-phyly at the family and genus level, particularly within the family Stichodactylidae and genus Stichodactyla, and suggests that symbioses with clownfishes evolved minimally three times within sea anemones. We further recover evidence for a Tethyan biogeographic origin for some clades. Our data provide the first evidence that clownfish and some sea anemone hosts have different biogeographic origins, and that there may be cryptic species of host anemones. Finally, our findings reflect the need for a major taxonomic revision of the clownfish-hosting sea anemones.

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A New Epizoanthus Species (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Epizoanthidae) Associated with the Gastropod Mollusk Guildfordia triumphans from Southern Japan.

Kise H, Reimer JD

Zoological science ( Zoological Science )  36 ( 3 ) 259 - 265   2019.06 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Status of giant clam resources around Okinawa-jima Island, Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan

Neo ML, KK Lim, SY Yang, GY Soong, GD Masucci, P Biondi, HB Wee, H Kise, JD Reimer

Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems ( Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems )  29 ( 6 ) 1002 - 1011   2019.06 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Diversity of zoantharian species and their symbionts from the Macaronesian and Cape Verde ecoregions demonstrates their widespread distribution in the Atlantic Ocean

López C, JD Reimer, A Brito, D Simón, S Clemente, M Hernández

Coral Reefs ( Coral Reefs )  38 ( 2 ) 269 - 283   2019.04 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Reduced Symbiodiniaceae diversity in Palythoa tuberculosa at a heavily acidified coral reef

Wee H.B.

Coral Reefs ( Coral Reefs )  38 ( 2 ) 311 - 319   2019.04 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Symbiodiniaceae diversity in hosts is known to change with the environment and particularly with temperature and light intensity. However, higher levels of pCO(2), as could be expected under future ocean acidification scenarios, have been documented to show little to no effect in influencing the diversity of Symbiodiniaceae in hosts in previous studies. In this study, we examined hypervariable psbA(ncr) sequences to identify the Cladocopium (former Symbiodinium 'Clade C') diversity within the zooxanthellate zoantharian Palythoa tuberculosa at an acidified reef in southern Japan. Palythoa tuberculosa were collected from a reef at the volcanic island of Iwotorishima in southern Japan; specimens from a high pCO(2) site and from a nearby control (normal pCO(2)) site (Inoue et al. in Nat Clim Change 3:683-687, 2013). We observed a statistically significant reduction in Cladocopium diversity at the high pCO(2) site with only one Cladocopium lineage present, compared to at the control site with two lineages present. Our results demonstrate that higher pCO(2) can potentially negatively influence the diversity of host Symbiodiniaceae within anthozoan hosts, an important implication in the face of ongoing ocean acidification and climate change.

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After the long summer: Death and survival of coral communities in the shallow waters of Kume Island, from the Ryukyu Archipelago

Masucci G, P Biondi, E Negro, JD Reimer

Regional Studies in Marine Science ( Regional Studies in Marine Science )  28   2019.04 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Digging for DNA at depth: Rapid universal metabarcoding surveys (RUMS) as a tool to detect coral reef biodiversity across a depth gradient

DiBattista J, JD Reimer, M Stat, GD Masucci, P Biondi, M De Brauwer, M Bunce

PeerJ ( PeerJ )  2019 ( 2 )   2019.02 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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