Published Papers - Reimer James Davis

Zoantharian abundance in coral reef benthic communities at Terengganu Islands, Malaysia

Wee H.B.

Regional Studies in Marine Science ( Regional Studies in Marine Science )  12   58 - 63   2017.04 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Zooxanthellate zoantharians of the genera Zoanthus and Palythoa are increasingly being studied in baseline work such as confirming distributions and long-term monitoring studies in shallow subtropical and tropical waters. There is some evidence that suggests that these genera increase in abundance as an ecological 'phase shift' response to ecological degradation. However, such studies have been limited to a few regions, including the Greater Caribbean, Brazil, and Japan, with little work performed in the waters of Southeast Asia and the central Indo-Pacific (CIP). We investigated changes in zoantharian cover within coral reef benthic communities around Terengganu, Malaysia, between July 2013 and September 2014, utilizing the Coral Video Transect method to survey the benthic communities of nine coral reefs. Zoantharian abundance was observed to be inversely proportionate to other major benthic groups (algae, dead corals, hard corals). Overall, zoantharians thrived in reefs with lower biological diversity of reef-building corals. Additionally, at one site (Pasir Akar) we documented a very sudden and large increase of zoantharian cover over two months from March to May 2014. This increase occurred after the reef was heavily damaged during monsoon season. Our results demonstrate that zoantharians are an understudied yet common major component of reefs in Southeast Asia, and that large changes in their abundance can occur very rapidly. Further research investigating longer-term trends of zoantharian abundance in Southeast Asia and the CIP are needed to ascertain if dramatic increases are part of a 'normal' recovery process or represent phase shifts in the benthic community structure of coral reefs. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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Evolutionary history of the extant amphioxus lineage with shallow-branching diversification

Igawa T.

Scientific Reports ( Scientific Reports )  7 ( 1 )   2017.04 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Amphioxus or lancelets have been regarded as a key animal in understanding the origin of vertebrates. However, the evolutionary history within this lineage remains unexplored. As the amphioxus lineage has likely been separated from other chordates for a very long time and displays a marked left-right asymmetry, its evolutionary history is potentially helpful in better understanding chordate and vertebrate origins. We studied the phylogenetic relationships within the extant amphioxus lineage based on mitochondrial genomes incorporating new Asymmetron and Epigonichthys populations, and based on previously reported nuclear transcriptomes. The resulting tree patterns are consistent, showing the Asymmetron clade diverging first, followed by the Epigonichthys and Branchiostoma clades splitting. Divergence time estimates based on nuclear transcriptomes with vertebrate calibrations support a shallow diversification of the extant amphioxus lineage in the Tertiary. These estimates fit well with the closure of seaways between oceans by continental drift, ocean currents, and present geographical distributions, and suggest a long cryptic history from the origin of amphioxus to its most recent diversification. Deduced character polarities based on phylogenetic analyses suggest that the common ancestor of the extant amphioxus existed in a tiny epibenthic state with larva-like appearance of extant amphioxus, likely with ciliate epidermis.

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Diversity of Zoantharia (Anthozoa: Hexacorallia) at Dongsha Atoll in the South China Sea

Reimer J.

Regional Studies in Marine Science ( Regional Studies in Marine Science )  12   49 - 57   2017.04 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Dongsha Atoll is the largest coral atoll in the South China Sea (SCS), and is expected to harbor high levels of biodiversity as the SCS is located adjacent to the recognized center of maximum marine biodiversity in the central Indo-Pacific (CIP). However, due to its relative isolation, the biodiversity of Dongsha Atoll has not yet been well investigated for most marine taxa. In this study, we report on findings from our survey in 2016 that focused on the order Zoantharia, for which only sporadic previous reports exist from the SCS. Our results indicate some species such as Palythoa tuberculosa are very common around Dongsha Atoll, as well as the presence of at least three undescribed species, including one species only found thus far at the atoll. Overall, we recorded 16 species of Zoantharia from Dongsha Atoll, bringing the total number of zoantharian species in the SCS to 22, close to numbers reported from the CIP (=24 spp.) and southern Japan (=28 spp.). These findings demonstrate the importance of protecting the biodiversity of Dongsha Atoll, and also, given the limited survey coverage, the potential for undiscovered biodiversity in the SCS. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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Latitudinal variation in the symbiotic dinoflagellate Symbiodinium of the common reef zoantharian Palythoa tuberculosa on the Saudi Arabian coast of the Red Sea

Reimer J.D.

Journal of Biogeography ( Journal of Biogeography )  44 ( 3 ) 661 - 673   2017.03 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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AimThe Red Sea presents an ideal setting to explore the variability of Symbiodinium over environmental, latitudinal and geographical gradients. We used sequences from two molecular markers to examine genetic diversity of Symbiodinium associated with the widely distributed zoantharian Palythoa tuberculosa in the northern and central Red Sea. LocationNorthern and central Red Sea. MethodsSpecimens (n=329) were collected from 15 locations. Sequence data from nuclear ribosomal ITS2 (n=269) and chloroplast minicircle psbA(ncr) (n=173) were phylogenetically analysed (maximum likelihood, neighbour joining), and Symbiodinium types identified for each P. tuberculosa colony. To establish whether environment was a strong predictor of Symbiodinium psbA(ncr) lineage, SST, chlorophyll-a, salinity, and depth data were fit into a multinomial logistic regression using the package VGAM in the R statistical environment. ResultsBased on ITS2 and psbA(ncr) results, P. tuberculosa colonies were shown to be in symbioses with Symbiodinium clade C (n=172) and clade D (n=1). Within clade C, four psbA(ncr) lineages were observed; closely related lineages designated Pt-1-a and Pt-1-b, and closely related lineages Pt-3-a and Pt-3-b. By location, Pt-1-a dominated the sites within the Gulf of Aqaba (c.86%, 37/43 colonies). At the entrance to the Gulf of Aqaba, Pt-3-a dominated (c.88%, 15/17), while the more southern remaining sites in the Red Sea were dominated by Pt-3-b (c.78%, 89/113). Main conclusionsMultinomial logistic regression analyses established that predictions based on the combination of temperature, chlorophyll-a and salinity accurately reflected symbiont distributions in the central and northern Red Sea. Palythoa tuberculosa host Pt-1-a in the coldest region, the Gulf of Aqaba (annual average SST=24.5-25.0 degrees C), while immediately to the south Pt-3-a dominates (SST=26.0-26.5 degrees C), with warmest southern sites dominated by Pt-3-b (SST >26.5 degrees C). The Gulf of Aqaba is a unique environment, and more research on Symbiodinium outside the Gulf is required to understand symbiont diversity patterns within the Red Sea.

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Editorial: biodiversity of Caribbean coral reefs (with a focus on the Dutch Caribbean)

Hoeksema B.W.

Marine Biodiversity ( Marine Biodiversity )  47 ( 1 ) 1 - 10   2017.03 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (other science council materials etc.)

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Investigating the effects of disturbed beaches on crustacean biota in Okinawa, Japan

Mottaghi A.

Regional Studies in Marine Science ( Regional Studies in Marine Science )  10   75 - 80   2017.02 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Subtropical Okinawa Island is known for its high marine biodiversity, yet relatively little work has been performed on examining the impacts of coastal development on its marine ecosystems. In this study, we examined three sandy disturbed beaches (including two artificial beaches) on three different sides of the island (artificial Ginowan Tropical Beach on the west coast, artificial Azama San-san Beach on the east coast, public Odo John Man Beach on the south coast) to investigate if differences exist in the environment and crustacean biota between paired disturbed and natural beaches. We conducted seasonal surveys (n = 4 surveys) by placing quadrats at three paired locations (artificial/disturbed and natural beaches at each location, to collect and record the diversity of infaunal crustacean (isopods and amphipods) taxa. Amphipods and isopods are basal parts of the food chain and therefore many marine creatures' diets contain them directly or indirectly, and they have been used in many studies as bioindicators. As well, environmental parameters including sand grain size, water temperature, and seawater quality (salinity, dissolved oxygen content, particulate organic matter, turbidity, conductivity, pH, phosphate, nitrite, nitrate, ammonium levels) were obtained from each site during each survey. The results showed that while water nutrients, sand composition, and water quality were very similar between paired disturbed and natural beaches, disturbed beaches had significantly less biodiversity. These results show that despite no obvious effects on water nutrients or quality, disturbed and artificial beaches influence the infaunal crustacean biodiversity/community in the classic manner of a disturbance. Furthermore, our results indicate that amphipods may be better indicators of disturbance compared to isopods, as the numbers of isopods were too low to be used in statistically robust analyses. With increasing tourism and corresponding development of artificial beaches in Okinawa Island, it is clear more research needs to be done on this subject. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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Observations of coral-dwelling gall crabs (Cryptochiridae) in the intertidal zone of Odo Beach (Okinawa, Japan)

SET van, der Meij, BT Reijnen, JD Reimer

Fauna Ryukyuana   37   7 - 9   2017.01 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (other science council materials etc.)

Disappearance and return of an outbreak of the coral-killing cyanobacteriosponge terpios hoshinota in Southern Japan

Yomogida M.

Zoological Studies ( Zoological Studies )  56   2017 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Masashi Yomogida, Masaru Mizuyama, Toshiki Kubomura, and James Davis Reimer (2017) Terpios hoshinota is cyanobacteriosponge that can cause serious damage to coral reef ecosystems by undergoing rapid breakouts in which it smothers and encrusts hard substrates, killing living sessile benthic organisms and reducing biodiversity of the affected area. The reasons for these outbreaks are still unclear, as are long- term prognoses of affected reefs. Some reports have suggested outbreaks may not be permanent, but very little long- term monitoring information exists. In this study, we report on a T. hoshinota outbreak (similar to 24% coverage) at Yakomo, Okinoerabu-jima Island, Kagoshima, Japan between 2010 to 2014. In this period, the existing outbreak was seen to almost completely disappear (similar to 0%) after unusually severe Typhoon Songda passed by in early June 2011. After this, macroalgae and a cyanobacterial bloom became the dominant benthos, but by September 2014, T. hoshinota coverage had recovered to approximately half of its pre-Typhoon coverage, suggesting the conditions that had caused the outbreak still persisted at Yakomo. While the conditions promoting T. hoshinota growth at this site remain uncertain, it appears that subtropical typhoons could play an important role in the dynamics of T. hoshinota outbreaks and disappearances.

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A preliminary survey of zoantharian endosymbionts shows high genetic variation over small geographic scales on Okinawa-jima Island, Japan.

Noda H, Parkinson JE, Yang SY, Reimer JD

PeerJ ( PeerJ )  5 ( 10 ) e3740   2017 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Symbiotic dinoflagellates (genus Symbiodinium) shape the responses of their host reef organisms to environmental variability and climate change. To date, the biogeography of Symbiodinium has been investigated primarily through phylogenetic analyses of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 region. Although the marker can approximate species-level diversity, recent work has demonstrated that faster-evolving genes can resolve otherwise hidden species and population lineages, and that this diversity is often distributed over much finer geographical and environmental scales than previously recognized. Here, we use the noncoding region of the chloroplast psbA gene (psbA(ncr)) to examine genetic diversity among clade C Symbiodinium associating with the common reef zoantharian Palythoa tuberculosa on Okinawa-jima Island, Japan. We identify four closely related Symbiodinium psbA(ncr) lineages including one common generalist and two potential specialists that appear to be associated with particular microhabitats. The sea surface temperature differences that distinguish these habitats are smaller than those usually investigated, suggesting that future biogeographic surveys of Symbiodinium should incorporate fine scale environmental information as well as fine scale molecular data to accurately determine species diversity and their distributions.

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Three new species and the molecular phylogeny of Antipathozoanthus from the Indo-Pacific Ocean (Anthozoa, Hexacorallia, Zoantharia).

Kise H, Fujii T, Masucci GD, Biondi P, Reimer JD

ZooKeys ( ZooKeys )  2017 ( 725 ) 97 - 122   2017 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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In this study, three new species of macrocnemic zoantharians (Hexacorallia, Zoantharia) are described from localities in the Indo-Pacific Ocean including the Red Sea, the Maldives, Palau, and southern Japan: Antipathozoanthus obscurus sp. n., A. remengesaui sp. n., and A. cavernus sp. n. Although the genus Antipathozoanthus is currently restricted to species living on antipatharians, A. obscurus sp. n. is not associated with any living substrate and instead is found on coral reef carbonate substrate within narrow caves or cracks. The two new species that have association with antipatharians, A. remengesaui sp. n. and A. cavernus sp. n., can be distinguished by their relative coenenchyme development and the antipatharian species that each uses as substrate. Additionally, all new species described in this study have unique nuclear internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA (ITS-rDNA) sequences. Our results indicate that more phylogenetic studies focusing on increasing the numbers of species examined within each of the genera of Parazoanthidae are required in order to better understand the evolutionary history of substrate specificity within the family Parazoanthidae.

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Seasonal Abundance of Sphaeromatidae (Crustacea: Isopoda) from Sandy Beaches in Okinawa-jima Island, Japan.

Mottaghi, A, Shimomura, M, Reimer, J. D

South Pacific Studies   38 ( 1 ) 23 - 29   2017 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

Rarity of Nanipora kamurai (Anthozoa: Octocorallia: Helioporacea) at its type locality

Miyazaki Y.

Marine Biodiversity ( Marine Biodiversity )  46 ( 4 ) 917 - 921   2016.12 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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The recently described aragonite skeleton-forming octocoral species Nanipora kamurai (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Octocorallia: Helioporacea) is known from only one locality in Okinawa, Japan. This locality, Ama Beach on Zamami Island, is a shallow (1 to 1.5 m deep) sandy reef moat popular with recreational swimmers and snorkelers during summer months. Additionally, the species has been reported to be rare at this site, although no concrete survey data existed. This study quantitatively investigated the rarity of N. kamurai at this site via examining all rocks and rubble within a transect survey (n = 6) of 2400 m(2). Our results show that N. kamurai is indeed low in number, with only eight colonies found over the entire survey area. Of coral rubble and rocks examined, only slightly more than 1 % of rocks had N. kamurai colonies (8/739 rocks), for a density of 0.003 colonies per m(2). As this species is low in abundance and known from only Ama Beach, local management to ensure the designated recreational swimming area at this location should be undertaken.

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Amphioxus mouth after dorso-ventral inversion

Takao Kaji, James D. Reimer, Arseniy R. Morov, Shigeru Kuratani, Kinya Yasui

Zoological Letters ( Springer Science and Business Media LLC )  2 ( 1 )   2016.12 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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An aquarium hobbyist poisoning: Identification of new palytoxins in Palythoa cf. toxica and complete detoxification of the aquarium water by activated carbon.

Tartaglione L, Pelin M, Morpurgo M, Dell'Aversano C, Montenegro J, Sacco G, Sosa S, Reimer JD, Ciminiello P, Tubaro A

Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology ( Toxicon )  121   41 - 50   2016.10 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Palytoxin (PLTX) is a lethal natural toxin often found in Palythoa zoantharians that, together with its congeners, may induce adverse effects in humans after inhalation of toxic aerosols both in open-air and domestic environments, namely in the vicinity of public and private aquaria. In this study, we describe a poisoning of an aquarium hobbyist who was hospitalized after handling a PLTXs-containing zoantharian hexacoral. Furthermore, we provide evidence for water detoxification. The zoantharian was morphologically and genetically identified as Palythoa cf. toxica (Cnidaria: Anthozoa). Palytoxin itself and two new PLTX congeners, a hydroxyPLTX and a deoxyPLTX, were detected and structurally identified by liquid chromatography high resolution multiple stage mass spectrometry (LC-HRMSn, n = 1, 2). Total and individual toxins were quantified by LC-HRMS and sandwich ELISA both in the zoantharian (93.4 and 96.80 mu g/g, respectively) and in the transport water (48.3 and 42.56 mu g/mL, respectively), with an excellent mean bias of 1.3% between the techniques. Activated carbon adsorbed 99.7% of PLTXs contained in the seawater and this represents a good strategy for preventing aquarium hobbyist poisonings. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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Extremely low genetic variability within and among locations of the greenfish holothurian Stichopus chloronotus Brandt, 1835 in Okinawa, Japan

Soliman T.

PeerJ ( PeerJ )  4 ( 9 )   2016.09 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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The greenfish sea cucumber Stichopus chloronotus is an economically and ecologically important sea cucumber species throughout its range. This species is widely distributed, inhabiting coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Our study evaluated population genetic structure and levels of genetic diversity in southern Japan. A total of 180 individuals were collected frorn eight locations from Okinawa and Okinoerabu Islands and sequenced using mitochondria' 16S ribosomal DNA (16S) and nuclear histone H3 (H3) gene. Only three 16S haplotypes were detected (518 bp) with haplotype diversity ranging from 0 to 0.56 and nucleotide diversity from 0 to 0.1%. H3 showed no variation among the studied locations. It is plausible that such results could be due to a shift to asexual reproduction. Additionally, the presence of the species on the east coast of Okinawa could only be detected in one location arid all individuals consisted of a single haplotype. Genetic differences between the east and west coasts of Okinawa have been noticed in other coral reef organisms, and attributed to either ecological or biogeographical historical differences between the coasts due to differing levels of isolation during Pleistocene ice ages. Results from the present study should inform management and conservation policies of S. chloronotus in southern Japan.

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Overview of the order Zoantharia (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) in Brazil

Santos M.E.A.

Marine Biodiversity ( Marine Biodiversity )  46 ( 3 ) 547 - 559   2016.09 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Zoantharia (Hexacorallia) is an order of benthic cnidarians, which are known to play an important ecological role in many marine ecosystems. Although the order has a cosmopolitan distribution, including the tropical southwestern Atlantic, research on Brazilian zoantharian species diversity and distribution patterns is lacking. In order to start addressing this gap, we conducted shallow-water coastal and oceanic island sampling in parallel with an extensive literature review to summarize the knowledge of the order Zoantharia from Brazil. Additionally, mitochondrial 16S ribosomal DNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences from specimens were determined to confirm their identity and phylogenetic position within the order. Our results show the presence of at least 13 zoantharian species in Brazilian waters, including first records of Palythoa aff. clavata and Zoanthus aff. pulchellus. Moreover, range extensions were confirmed for Palythoa caribaeorum, P. grandiflora, P. variabilis, Zoanthus pulchellus, and Parazoanthus swiftii. We also present the first report on the distribution patterns for all studied species in Brazil. The current study is expected to provide a baseline for further surveys in the tropical southwestern Atlantic, where Zoantharia species richness is still understudied and therefore very likely underestimated.

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Genetic population structure and low genetic diversity in the over-exploited sea cucumber Holothuria edulis Lesson, 1830 (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) in Okinawa Island

Soliman T.

Conservation Genetics ( Conservation Genetics )  17 ( 4 ) 811 - 821   2016.08 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Understanding genetic connectivity is fundamental for ecosystem-based management of marine resources. Here we investigate the metapopulation structure of the edible sea cucumber Holothuria edulis Lesson, 1830 across Okinawa Island, Japan. This species is of economic and ecological importance and is distributed from the Red Sea to Hawai'i. We examined sequence variation in fragments of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and 16S ribosomal RNA (16S), and nuclear histone (H3) at six locations across Okinawa Island. We found higher haplotype diversity for mtDNA (COI: Hd = 0.69 and 16S: Hd = 0.67) and higher heterozygosity of nDNA (H3: H (E) = 0.39) in populations from the west coast of Okinawa compared to individuals from populations on the east coast (COI: Hd = 0.40; 16S: Hd = 0.21; H3: H (E) = 0.14). Overall population structure was significant (AMOVA results for COI: I broken vertical bar (ST) = 0.49, P < 0.0001; 16S: I broken vertical bar (ST) = 0.34, P < 0.0001; H3: I broken vertical bar (ST) = 0.12, P < 0.0001). One population in the east, Uruma, showed elevated pairwise I broken vertical bar (ST) values in comparisons with all other sites and a marked reduction of genetic diversity (COI: Hd = 0.25 and 16S: Hd = 0.24), possibly as a consequence of a shift to a more dominant asexual reproduction mode. Recent reports have indicated that coastal development in this area influences many marine organisms, and ecosystem degradation in this location could cause the observed decrease of genetic diversity and isolation of H. edulis in Uruma. Our study should provide valuable data to help with the urgently needed management of sea cucumber populations in Okinawa, and indicates particular attention needs to be paid to vulnerable locations.

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Palythoa heideri Carlgren, 1954, objective synonym and valid name for the zoantharian currently known as Palythoa singaporensis Pax & Müller, 1956 (Cnidaria: Hexacorallia: Zoantharia: Sphenopidae)

MEY Low, JD Reimer

  9   47 - 48   2016.06 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (other science council materials etc.)

The Automated Recovery Timer (ART): An alternative to traditional `burnwire'- based subsea instrument recovery devices

GB Johnson, J Hess, JD Reimer

SOJ Aquatic Research   1   1 - 4   2016.05 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (other science council materials etc.)

Sponges hosting the zoantharia-associated crab Platypodiella spectabilis at St. Eustatius, Dutch Caribbean

Garcia-Hernandez J.

Coral Reefs ( Coral Reefs )  35 ( 1 ) 209 - 209   2016.03 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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