{"title":"Cryptic diversification, phenotypic plasticity, and host specialization in a sponge-dwelling goby","authors":"","doi":"10.1007/s00338-024-02466-z","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<h3>Abstract</h3> <p>Coral reefs harbor 30% of oceanic biodiversity, but many species remain undiscovered. Indeed, coral reef taxonomic inventories are heavily skewed toward large, conspicuous organisms, leaving numerous smaller, cryptic species undescribed. Cryptobenthic reef fishes, such as gobies, can speciate rapidly due to short lifespans and limited dispersal, and ecological specialization may facilitate their diversification. Here, we examine whether habitat specialization correlates with genetic and phenotypic divergence in <em>Risor ruber</em>, a sponge-dwelling goby distributed across the western Atlantic Ocean. By integrating phylogenetic evidence, morphometrics, and network analysis, we identify seven distinct genetic lineages within <em>Risor</em> and reveal concordant patterns of <em>Risor</em>–sponge specialization. Despite the absence of lineage-specific morphologies, morphological traits are associated with sponge hosts, indicating high phenotypic plasticity within lineages. Two <em>Risor</em> lineages specialize on a single host sponge across the Caribbean, while five lineages are generalists. Finally, high modularity across <em>Risor</em>–sponge networks provides further evidence that ecological specialization contributes to <em>Risor</em> diversification. Given the rapid changes in coral reef benthic communities, habitat specialists are more likely to lose their primary habitat and face extinction. Documenting and understanding genetic diversification is imperative, especially in understudied, vulnerable organisms such as cryptobenthic reef fishes.</p>","PeriodicalId":2,"journal":{"name":"ACS Applied Bio Materials","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.6000,"publicationDate":"2024-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"ACS Applied Bio Materials","FirstCategoryId":"99","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-024-02466-z","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"MATERIALS SCIENCE, BIOMATERIALS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Coral reefs harbor 30% of oceanic biodiversity, but many species remain undiscovered. Indeed, coral reef taxonomic inventories are heavily skewed toward large, conspicuous organisms, leaving numerous smaller, cryptic species undescribed. Cryptobenthic reef fishes, such as gobies, can speciate rapidly due to short lifespans and limited dispersal, and ecological specialization may facilitate their diversification. Here, we examine whether habitat specialization correlates with genetic and phenotypic divergence in Risor ruber, a sponge-dwelling goby distributed across the western Atlantic Ocean. By integrating phylogenetic evidence, morphometrics, and network analysis, we identify seven distinct genetic lineages within Risor and reveal concordant patterns of Risor–sponge specialization. Despite the absence of lineage-specific morphologies, morphological traits are associated with sponge hosts, indicating high phenotypic plasticity within lineages. Two Risor lineages specialize on a single host sponge across the Caribbean, while five lineages are generalists. Finally, high modularity across Risor–sponge networks provides further evidence that ecological specialization contributes to Risor diversification. Given the rapid changes in coral reef benthic communities, habitat specialists are more likely to lose their primary habitat and face extinction. Documenting and understanding genetic diversification is imperative, especially in understudied, vulnerable organisms such as cryptobenthic reef fishes.