Skip to main content
Log in

Unexpected discovery of Diadema clarki in the Coral Triangle

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Marine Biodiversity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Sea urchins of the genus Diadema, key herbivores in coral reef ecosystems, also provide habitat for other organisms. Our research extended Diadema biogeography in seaways east and west of Sulawesi and identified Diadema species associated with the endemic Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) using field surveys and molecular DNA barcoding methods. Field observations (20 sites, n = 11,223) found urchins with morphological phenotypes typical of Diadema setosum (≈ 74%, all sites), D. savignyi (≈ 24%, 19 sites) and atypical or mixed traits (≈ 2%, 19 sites). Distribution of these phenotype groups across the three main habitat types (i.e. coral reef, reef flat and seagrass beds) differed significantly (χ2 = 533.03, p < 2.2e−16), indicating overlapping but non-equivalent ecological niches. Pterapogon kauderni associated with all urchin morphological phenotypes present. Diadema mtDNA CO1 sequences were obtained from tissue samples collected (4 sites, n = 62) from specimens with typical D. savignyi and D. setosum phenotypes. Phylogenetic tree analysis resolved the sequences into four clades. Three clades from our analysis were identified as D. savignyi, D. setosum and D. clarki based on additional sequences obtained from GenBank. This unexpected first record of D. clarki mtDNA in the Coral Triangle implies a substantial extension of the known range of this recently resurrected species. Our findings indicate the occurrence and/or introgression of D. clarki may be widespread, and misidentification of Diadema urchins based on external morphology may be relatively common. Further research is required to determine the distribution and functional roles of Indo-Pacific Diadema species, contributing to our understanding of processes underpinning biodiversity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the many organisations and individuals who assisted with or facilitated the research and the production of this manuscript, including the BIONESIA team (molecular biology laboratory) and Muh. Banda Selamat (assistance with Fig. 1). We also wish to express our sincere gratitude to the three reviewers for their contributions which have enriched and improved the manuscript, to our editor for her unflagging support and patience and to all the Marine Biodiversity editorial team.

Funding

This study was funded by grant 3663/UN4.21/LK.23/2017 from the Hasanuddin University Professorship scheme, grant 3083/UN4.21/PL.00.00/2018 from the Hasanuddin University International Research Collaboration and Scientific Publication scheme and grant No. 168.A8/D2/KP/2017 from the Indonesian Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education World Class Professor Scheme B. Preparation of the manuscript was supported by World Class Professor Scheme B Grant No. 168.A8/D2/KP/2017 from the Indonesian Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jamaluddin Jompa.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All applicable international, national and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed by the authors.

Sampling and field study

All necessary permitting and procedures were followed for the observational field study and the collection of samples, and the appropriate documents were provided to and/or obtained by the authors from the competent authorities.

Data availability

The datasets generated during the current study have been deposited in the GenBank repository under MG988406–MG988411, MH051847–MH051888 and MK296413–MK296426.

Additional information

Communicated by S. Stöhr

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1

(XLSX 17 kb)

ESM 2

(PDF 914 kb)

ESM 3

(PDF 865 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Moore, A.M., Tassakka, A.C.M., Ambo-Rappe, R. et al. Unexpected discovery of Diadema clarki in the Coral Triangle. Mar Biodiv 49, 2381–2399 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-019-00978-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-019-00978-4

Keywords

Navigation