Contrasting evolutionary patterns in two reef-corals and their possible relationship to life history traits

Conference · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985 · Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States)

OSTI ID:6652604

Foster, A B

Multivariate statistical analyses have been used to redefine species within two genera of reef-corals (Porites and Montastraea) and to trace their evolutionary patterns through a continuous sequence from late Miocene to early Pliocene time. The material studied consists of populations sampled at regular intervals through four stratigraphic sections in the northern Dominican Republic. The results show that species in the first genus (Porites) have relatively short durations, morphologic stability, and narrow spatial distributions. Their overall evolutionary history is characterized by short periods of radiation and widespread extinction, separated by longer periods of stasis. In contrast, species in the second genus (Montastraea) exhibit various different durations and distributions and directional morphologic trends. These differences in patterns may be related to the dissimilar life histories of the two genera. Patterns in the first genus appear more common in organisms having high larval recruitment, high mortality, high genetic variation, and less morphologic distance between species. Patterns in the second genus occur more frequently in slower growing, phenotypically plastic organisms experiencing less recruitment and mortality and showing more morphologic distance between species.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Iowa, Iowa City (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6652604
• Report Number(s): CONF-8510489-
• Journal Information: Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States), Vol. 17; Conference: 98. annual meeting of the Geological Society of America, Orlando, FL, USA, 28 Oct 1985
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
CORALS
BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
POPULATION DYNAMICS
REEFS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
MORPHOLOGY
MORTALITY
PALEONTOLOGY
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
SPECIES DIVERSITY
STATISTICS
STRATIGRAPHY
TERTIARY PERIOD
CENOZOIC ERA
CNIDARIA
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DISTRIBUTION
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
GREATER ANTILLES
HISPANIOLA
ISLANDS
MATHEMATICS
WEST INDIES
580100* - Geology & Hydrology- (-1989)
550800 - Morphology