A Pre-Zygotic Barrier to Hybridization in Two Con-Generic Species of Scleractinian Corals

Authors

Andrew H. Baird, James Cook University - Townsville, Australia
Vivian R. Cumbo, James Cook University - Townsville, Australia
Joana Figueiredo, James Cook University - Townsville, AustraliaFollow
Saki Harii, University of the Ryukyus - Japan

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-2013

Publication Title

F1000Research

ISSN

2046-1402

Volume

2

Issue/No.

193

First Page

1

Last Page

6

Abstract

Hybridization is often cited as a potential source of evolutionary novelty in the order Scleractinia. While hybrid embryos can be produced in vitro, it has been difficult to identify adult hybrids in the wild. Here, we tested the potential for hybridization between two closely related species in the family Fungiidae. We mixed approximately 5000 eggs of Ctenactis echinata with sperm from C. crassa. No hybrid embryos were produced. This observation adds to a growing body of evidence for pre-zygotic barriers to hybridization in corals and challenges the claim that hybridization is a major source of evolutionary novelty in the order.

Comments

©2013 Baird AH et al.

Additional Comments

Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies grant #: COE561432

NSUWorks Citation

Andrew H. Baird, Vivian R. Cumbo, Joana Figueiredo, and Saki Harii. 2013. A Pre-Zygotic Barrier to Hybridization in Two Con-Generic Species of Scleractinian Corals .F1000Research , (193) : 1 -6. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facarticles/422.

ORCID ID

0000-0001-6597-0268

DOI

10.12688/f1000research.2-193.v2