Biodiversity and Host Specificity of Coral-Inhabiting Barnacles in Taiwan
Date Issued
2012
Date
2012
Author(s)
Chen, Yi-Yang
Abstract
Coral-inhabiting barnacles are members of Phylum Arthropoda, Subphylum Crustacea, Class Maxillopoda, Infraclass Cirripedia, Order Thoracica, and Family Pyrgomatidae. They are exclusive symbionts of scleractinian corals, found in almost all coral reef environments. In Taiwan, coral-inhabiting barnacles exist in most shallow sea with coral reefs. At present, there is limited examination on diversity and host specificity of coral-inhabiting barnacles in Taiwan. In this study, coral-inhabiting barnacles were observed and collected from host corals by SCUBA diving. Species were identified with morphological characters, including shell, opercular valves, oral cone, cirri and penis. Eleven genera (Cantellius, Cionophorus, Darwiniella, Galkinia, Hiroa, Neotrevathana, Nobia, Pyrgoma, Savignium, Trevathana and Wanella) and 33 species were found, including 15 new species (Cantellius latus sp. nov., Cantellius porata sp. nov., Darwiniella angularis sp. nov., Galkinia adamas sp. nov., Galkinia altiapiculus sp. nov., Galkinia depressa sp. nov., Galkinia tabulatus sp. nov., Galkinia trimegadonta sp. nov., Savignium biporata sp. nov., Savignium rossi sp. nov., Savignium sectus sp. nov., Savignium serratus sp. nov., Savignium uncinulus sp. nov., Trevathana achituvi sp. nov., Trevathana longidonta sp. nov.) and 3 newly recorded species (Cantelliu acutum, Galkinia decima, Neotrevathana elongatum). Result of this study shows a high biodiversity of coral-inhabiting barnacles in Taiwan, taking up more than 1/3 world’s present species. Host specificity between coral-inhabiting barnacles and host corals was also examined. Most coral-inhabiting barnacles display host specificity, with variable degree among different species.
Subjects
Coral-inhabiting barnacle
Family Pyrgomatidae
scleractinian corals
symbionts
diversity
host specificity
Type
thesis
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