Research
Genomic analysis restores species status to 12 overlooked Great Barrier Reef corals
Phys.org ·
The Brief
- An international team working with Queensland Museum's CoralBank project found 12 Great Barrier Reef corals previously considered variations of other species are distinct species.
- The study used genomic analysis to uncover coral diversity on Australia's east coast that had been hidden.
- The findings restore species status to 12 corals that had been overlooked.
Why it matters
Accurate species counts affect how reef biodiversity is measured and which populations conservation efforts target. Corals misclassified as variants of other species may be missed in monitoring and protection plans.
Who’s affected
- coral reef scientists
- marine biologists and taxonomists
- reef conservation managers on Australia's east coast
- #coral
- #great barrier reef
- #genomics
- #biodiversity
- #taxonomy
An international team of scientists working with Queensland Museum's CoralBank project has uncovered previously hidden coral diversity on Australia's east coast, revealing that 12 corals once considered variations of other species are distinct species in their own right.
Timeline
Study announcing that 12 Great Barrier Reef corals are distinct species published
Biology News - Evolution, Cell theory, Gene theory, Microbiology, Biotechnology
Genomic analysis restores species status to 12 overlooked Great Barrier Reef corals