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image/svg+xml Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Closed Access logo, derived from PLoS Open Access logo. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Closed_Access_logo_transparent.svg Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao New Phytologistarrow_drop_down
image/svg+xml Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Closed Access logo, derived from PLoS Open Access logo. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Closed_Access_logo_transparent.svg Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao
New Phytologist
Article . 2025 . Peer-reviewed
License: Wiley Online Library User Agreement
Data sources: Crossref
New Phytologist
Article . 2025
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Coral‐associated Symbiodiniaceae exhibit host specificity but lack phylosymbiosis, with Cladocopium and Durusdinium showing different cophylogenetic patterns

Authors: Jiaxin Li; Zhuang Shao; Keke Cheng; Qingsong Yang; Huimin Ju; Xiaoyu Tang; Si Zhang; +1 Authors

Coral‐associated Symbiodiniaceae exhibit host specificity but lack phylosymbiosis, with Cladocopium and Durusdinium showing different cophylogenetic patterns

Abstract

Summary Altering the composition of the Symbiodiniaceae community to adapt to anomalous sea water warming represents a potential survival mechanism for scleractinian corals. However, the processes of Symbiodiniaceae assembly and long‐standing evolution of coral–Symbiodiniaceae interactions remain unclear. Here, we utilized ITS2 (internal transcribed spacer 2) amplicon sequencing and the SymPortal framework to investigate the diversity and specificity of Symbiodiniaceae across 39 scleractinian coral species. Furthermore, we tested phylosymbiosis and cophylogeny between coral hosts and their Symbiodiniaceae. In our study, environmental samples exhibited the highest Symbiodiniaceae diversity. Cladocopium and Durusdinium dominated the Symbiodiniaceae communities, with significant β‐diversity differences among coral species. Additionally, host specificity was widespread in Symbiodiniaceae, especially Durusdinium spp., yet lacked a phylosymbiotic pattern. Moreover, Cladocopium spp. showed cophylogenetic congruence with their hosts, while there was no evidence for Durusdinium spp. Furthermore, host switching was the predominant evolutionary event, implying its contribution to Cladocopium diversification. These findings suggest that Symbiodiniaceae assembly does not recapitulate host phylogeny, and host specificity alone does not drive phylosymbiosis or cophylogeny. As environmental reservoirs, free‐living Symbiodiniaceae may influence symbiotic communities. Additionally, Durusdinium–coral associations lack cophylogenetic signals, indicating more flexible partnerships than Cladocopium. Overall, our results enhance understanding of Symbiodiniaceae assembly and coral–Symbiodiniaceae evolutionary interactions.

Related Organizations
Keywords

Species Specificity, Dinoflagellida, Animals, Anthozoa, Symbiosis, Host Specificity, Phylogeny

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
1
Average
Average
Average
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