ANTHOZOA
SYSTEMATICS & EVOLUTION

Genetic diversity is an essential source for biodiversity, providing the raw material for evolution. When interconnected, populations tend to preserve greater genetic diversity compared to more isolated populations, which in turn are more susceptible to genetic drift effects. Thus, endeavoring to fill such gaps and, consequently, improve our understanding in how climate change has and is shaping SWA coral evolution as a lineage and as a system, the present proposal consists of consolidating an interdisciplinary research line cored on RNA/DNA deep sequencing. Overall, advances in high-throughput sequencing and SNP genotyping technologies have greatly expanded our ability to identify signatures of positive selection.

Such signatures help us to delimit regions of the genome that are, or have been, functionally important, poiting towards the identification of genetic variation that contributes to phenotypic diversity and genotype selection. Examining such diversity in the light of phylogeny / phylogeography / holobiont will open horizons to explore where, when and how traits – of any nature – have changed over different time scales. Retrieved biological patterns at population and specific levels will also enable the proposition of evolutionary processes and subsequent transformations of corals in light of environment variables. Therefore, at the onset of the Decade of the Ocean, and understanding that such knowledge is essential to define efficient management and conservation strategies, the present proposal will persue long lasting questions regarding the major architects of shallow-water coral reefs in times not just of major scientific interest, but also intense public and media concern because of the uncertain fate of these ecosystems in the face of ever increasing anthropogenic challenges.