Journal of Oceanology and Limnology   2021, Vol. 39 issue(5): 1758-1766     PDF       
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00343-021-0404-7
Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Article Information

LI Yang, ZHAN Zifeng, XU Kuidong
Paragorgia papillata sp. nov., a new bubblegum coral (Octocorallia: Paragorgiidae) from a seamount in the tropical Western Pacific
Journal of Oceanology and Limnology, 39(5): 1758-1766
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00343-021-0404-7

Article History

Received Oct. 27, 2020
accepted in principle Dec. 2, 2020
accepted for publication Jan. 6, 2021
Paragorgia papillata sp. nov., a new bubblegum coral (Octocorallia: Paragorgiidae) from a seamount in the tropical Western Pacific
Yang LI1, Zifeng ZHAN1, Kuidong XU1,2,3     
1 Laboratory of Marine Organism Taxonomy and Phylogeny, Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China;
2 Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519082, China;
3 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
Abstract: A new species of bubblegum coral, Paragorgia papillata sp. nov., discovered from a seamount located on the Caroline Ridge at the water depth of 858 m, is studied using morphological and molecular approaches. The new gorgonian is white-colored, uniplanar with prominent autozooids, and measures about 670-mm high and 690-mm wide. The genetic distance and phylogenetic analysis showed that P. papillata sp. nov. was closely related to P. coralloides Bayer, 1993, but the former differs morphologically from the latter by its prominent calyces (diameter 2.0-4.0 mm and height 1.5-3.0 mm vs. both diameter and height about 1 mm), white cortex (vs. pink), regular 8-radiates in surface cortex (vs. mostly 8-radiate derived globular radiates) and highly ornate medullar spindles (length 185-400 μm vs. no more than 150 μm). P. papillata sp. nov. is the third known white-colored species of the genus, and the fifth species found in the tropical Western Pacific.
Keywords: Paragorgia    gorgonian    Scleraxonia    Cnidaria    new species    seamount    
1 INTRODUCTION

Paragorgiidae Kükenthal, 1916, one of the nine families of the octocoral suborder Scleraxonia Studer, 1887, comprises members having dimorphic polyps and an axial medulla formed by accumulation of unfused sclerites (Sánchez, 2005; Li et al., 2020). To date, the family contains 18 known species within the genus Paragorgia Milne-Edwards and Haime, 1857 and four species within the genus Sibogagorgia Stiasny, 1937; all members have restricted distributions in deep waters (Sánchez, 2005; Herrera et al., 2010; Herrera and Shank, 2016; Li et al., 2017; Horvath, 2019). The two genera are differentiated by the large canals in the medulla of terminal branches and the sclerites of autozooid tentacles (Sánchez, 2005; Herrera et al., 2010; Horvath, 2019).

During the survey on a seamount biodiversity in the tropical Western Pacific in 2019, we collected a white-colored individual of Paragorgia at the water depth of 858 m. The specimen was inhabited by a basket star (probably of the echinoderm family Gorgonocephalidae Ljungman, 1867), five ophiuroids of the order Euryalida de Lamarck, 1816, and a scale worm of the polychaete family Polynoidae Kinberg, 1856. Based on the morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses, the species is described herein as Paragorgia papillata sp. nov. Following P. splendens Thomson and Henderson, 1906, P. coralloides Bayer, 1993, P. sibogae Bayer, 1993, and P. rubra Li et al., 2017, the new species becomes the fifth species of the genus found in the tropical Western Pacific.

2 MATERIAL AND METHOD 2.1 Specimen collection

Specimen was collected by the submersible remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Faxian (Discovery in Chinese) from a seamount in the tropical Western Pacific during the cruise of the R/V Kexue (Science in Chinese) in 2019. The seamount is located on the Caroline Ridge (named unofficially as "M6"). The specimen was photographed in situ before being sampled by the ROV. Post collection, the specimen was immediately photographed and small branches were stored at -80 ℃ for DNA Extraction. The rest of colony was fixed in 70% ethanol for morphological studies and permanent preservation. The holotype is deposited in the Marine Biological Museum of Chinese Academy of Sciences (MBMCAS) at Qingdao, China.

2.2 Morphological examination

Micromorphology was observed and photographed by means of a stereo dissecting microscope (Zeiss SteREO Discovery. V12). Sclerites from the autozooid tentacles, surface cortex, inner cortex, and medulla were isolated respectively by digestion of these tissues in sodium hypochlorite, and then were washed with distilled water and pure ethanol. To investigate the ultrastructure, sclerites were transferred to carbon double adhesive tape, air-dried and coated for the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). SEM scans were obtained using Hitachi TM3030Plus SEM at 15 kV and the optimum magnification for each target sclerite. About 40 sclerites from each sample were photographed covering as many shape types, ornament variations, and size range as possible, and 20 of them were randomly chosen for measurement (Li et al., 2020). Terminology follows Bayer et al. (1983).

2.3 DNA extraction and sequencing

Genomic DNA was extracted from the polyps using DNeasy Blood and Tissue Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) following manufacturer's instructions. To amplify the mitochondrial region mutS homolog (mtMutS), the primers AnthoCorMSH (5'-AGGAG-AATTATTCTAAGTATGG-3'; Herrera et al., 2010) and Mut-3458R (5'-TSGAGCAAAAGCCACTCC-3'; Sánchez et al., 2003) were used. PCR reactions were conducted following Xu et al. (2020). PCR purification and sequencing were performed by TsingKe Biological Technology (TsingKe Biotech, Beijing, China).

2.4 Genetic distance and phylogenetic analyses

The mtMutS as the most variable mitochondrial gene in octocorals, was selected for genetic distance and phylogenetic analyses. The mtMutS sequences of all available Paragorgia associated with published articles and two Sibogagorgia species as the out-group were downloaded from GenBank, and those not identified to species level were omitted from the molecular analyses. The sequences were aligned using MAFFT v.7 (Katoh and Standley, 2013) with the G-INS-i algorithm. The nucleotide alignment was trimmed to equal length using BioEdit v7.0.5 (Hall, 1999). Genetic distances between species/populations were calculated with MEGA 6.0 using uncorrected "p" model (Tamura et al., 2013).

For the phylogenetic construction, when conspecific sequences were identical, one was chosen randomly for analysis. The best-fitted model TPM2uf+I was selected with the Akaike information criterion in jModeltest2 (Darriba et al., 2012). Maximum likelihood (ML) analysis was performed using PhyML-3.1 (Guindon et al., 2010) with the TPM2uf+I model. Node support came from a majority-rule consensus tree of 1 000 bootstrap replicates. Following Hillis and Bull (1993), the ML bootstraps < 70%, 70%-94%, and 95% were considered as low, moderate, and high, respectively. Bayesian inference (BI) analysis was carried out using MrBayes v3.2.7a (Ronquist and Huelsenbeck, 2003) with GTR model. Priors were fixed for substitution rate ("revmat") and stationary nucleotide frequencies ("statefreg") as output by jModeltest2. Posterior probability was estimated based on 10 000 000 Monte Carlo Markov Chain (MCMC) generations (×4 chains) sampling every 1 000 generations (burn-in=25%). Convergence of the MCMC was assessed using Tracer 1.4.1 (Rambaut and Drummond, 2007). Following Alfaro et al. (2003), the Bayesian posterior probabilities < 0.95 and 0.95 were considered as low and high, respectively. The GenBank accession numbers of the sequences were listed next to the species names in the phylogenetic trees.

3 RESULT 3.1 Systematics

Class Anthozoa Ehrenberg, 1834

Subclass Octocorallia Haeckel, 1866

Order Alcyonacea Lamouroux, 1812

Family Paragorgiidae Kükenthal, 1916

Genus Paragorgia Milne-Edwards and Haime, 1857

Paragorgia papillata sp. nov. (Figs. 1-3)

Fig.1 The holotype of Paragorgia papillata sp. nov. a. the colony in situ. laser dots were used for measuring dimensions spaced at 33 cm; b. close view of expanded polyps in situ; c. the colony side with more autozooids of the freshly collected specimen; d. the colony side with less autozooids of freshly collected specimen; e. close view of an ethanol preserved branch, showing the tuberculate shape of autozooid clumps; f. enlargement of two autozooids. Scale bars=10 cm (c, d), 2 cm (e), and 1 mm (f), respectively. Pictures c and d were photographed by Shaoqing WANG.
Fig.2 Cross-section of Paragorgia papillata sp. nov. a. cross-section of main stem; b. cross-section of a terminal branch without polyp, showing cortex (C), medulla (M), medullar canals (MC), and boundary canals (BC); c. cross-section of a terminal branch through three polyps, showing a polyp (P), cortex (C), medulla (M), medullar canals (MC), and oocyte (O). Scale bars=10 mm (a), 1 mm (b, c).
Fig.3 Sclerites of Paragorgia papillata sp. nov. a. sclerites from autozooids; b. sclerites from surface cortex; c. intermediate forms from inner cortex; d. sclerites from medulla. Scale bars=50 μm (a, c), 20 μm (b), and 100 μm (d).

Material examined Holotype: MBM286408, collected from M6 seamount at the station FX-Dive 219 (10°06.78'N, 140°14.53'E) with the water depth of 858 m (temperature 5.04 ℃; salinity 34.5) on 7 June 2019, rocky bottom.

Description Growth form and size: Colony uniplanar overall (terminal branches often overlapped but without anastomoses), dichotomous, approximately 670-mm high and 690-mm wide in preservation (Fig. 1). Holdfast irregularly circular, detached from colony. The main stem compressed, cross-section 33×46 mm in width, approximately 60-mm long before a broken large branch arising. Two large branches arising about 40-mm long before the first branch, one measuring about 19-mm wide and 33-mm deep, the other one 23-mm wide and 27-mm deep. Terminal branches mostly 10-90 mm in length, 2-5 mm in diameter exclusive of autozooid clumps, each clump with 8-9 autozooids (Fig. 1). Transversal cross-section of the main stem full of canals, from which fixation liquid can flow out when the colony is placed in air (Fig. 2a). Medulla in the terminal branches usually perforated by 4-7 canals, and subsurface perforated usually by 15-20 boundary canals around the medulla (Fig. 2b & c).

Polyps: Autozooids expanded and exhibited yellowish-white color in life. In preservation, calyces prominent, usually clustered in distinct nodules both at branch tips and along branches, giving colony and branches tuberculate appearance (Fig. 1). Autozooids retractile, most fully withdrawn into calyces, measuring 2.0-4.0-mm wide and 1.5-3.0-mm exsert, and distributed somewhat more in one side of the colony than the other. Siphonozooids tiny, distributed on all sides of branches.

Sclerites: Autozooid tentacles densely armed with ornate ovals that have conical protuberances and an indistinct waist, ranging 69-123 μm in length (average 98±13.4 μm, n=20), and 1.7-3.0 times (average 2.27) longer than wide (average 43.2±4.5 μm, n=20) (Fig. 3a). Surface cortex mostly 8-radiates, ranging 40-79 μm in length (average 57±8.6 μm, n=20), and 1.4-1.9 times (average 1.60) longer than wide (average 35±3.4 μm, n=20) (Fig. 3b). Radiates usually asymmetrical as differentiation of rays that are mostly smooth and lobulated (Fig. 3b). Subsurface sclerites include ornate and smooth spindles, up to 195 μm in length (Fig. 3c). Medullar sclerites mainly ornate spindles having high tubercles with prominent thorns, ranging 185-400 μm in length (average 279±56 μm, n=20), and 2.6-6.8 times (average 4.35) longer than wide (average 66±11.8 μm, n=20) (Fig. 3d).

Color: Cortex white to yellowish in vivo and in freshly collected specimen. In ethanol preservation, upper cortex milk white, medulla and cortex of lower stems yellowish (Fig. 1). Sclerites whitish or colorless under transmitted light.

Etymology The Latin adjective papillata (papillate) refers to the autozooid shape of the species.

Distribution and habitat Found on a seamount (M6) located on the Caroline Ridge in the tropical Western Pacific, where the water depth was 858 m, temperature was 5.04 ℃, and salinity was 34.5. In the field, the holotype was attached on rocky bottom, and was inhabited by five individuals of the ophiuroid order Euryalida de Lamarck, 1816, a basket star (probably belonging to the family Gorgonocephalidae Ljungman, 1867) and a scale worm of the family Polynoidae Kinberg, 1856.

3.2 Genetic distance and phylogenetic analyses

The GenBank accession number of the mtMutS sequence from Paragorgia papillata sp. nov. is MW139970, and its length is 701 bp. The alignment dataset comprised 610 nucleotide positions. The genetic distances between P. papillata sp. nov. and the group including P. coralloides and P. regalis KX008439 were 0.16% (corresponding to one nucleotide difference), and those between P. papillata sp. nov. and the rest congeners were in range of 1.48%−3.77%.

The ML and BI phylogenetic trees of the mtMutS gene were nearly identical in topology except for the position of P. papillata sp. nov. (Figs. 4 & 5). In the both trees, P. kaupeka Sánchez, 2005 and P. rubra Li et al. (2017) formed a sister clade, branching early with full node support. Excluding this basal clade, P. papillata sp. nov. fell outside of the clade including all the rest Paragorgia species with high support (ML 93%) in the ML tree. While there was low support (BI 0.50) for P. papillata sp. nov., P. coralloides and P. regalis KX008439 forming a clade that was sister to the remaining congeners in the BI tree. Hence, we elucidated the phylogenetic position of P. papillata sp. nov. based on the ML tree.

Fig.4 Maximum likelihood (ML) tree constructed by mtMutS showing phylogenetic relationships among Paragorgia sequences Newly sequenced species are in bold. The GenBank accession numbers of the mtMutS sequences are listed next to the species names.
Fig.5 The Bayesian inference (BI) tree constructed by mtMutS showing phylogenetic relationships among Paragorgia sequences Newly sequenced species are in bold. The GenBank accession numbers of the mtMutS sequences are listed next to the species names.
4 DISCUSSION

In the both phylogenetic trees, Paragorgia regalis Nutting, 1912 populations were separated into four divergent clades, among which P. regalis KX008439 clustered with P. coralloides Bayer, 1993 (Figs. 4 & 5). Furthermore, Li et al. (2017) proposed that the P. regalis populations might represent a species complex based on the genetic distance analysis, which accords with the morphological confusion suggested by Sánchez (2005). Hence, a taxonomic reexamination is needed for these populations. Morphologically, P. papillata sp. nov. differs distinctly from the holotype of P. regalis by its prominent calyces (very exserted vs. totally retracted into nodules) and white cortex (vs. salmon pink), though both species have similar sclerite types and sizes (Nutting, 1912; Sánchez, 2005). P. papillata sp. nov. is also closely related to P. coralloides based on the genetic distance and phylogenetic analysis. Nevertheless, P. papillata sp. nov. differs distinctly from P. coralloides Bayer, 1993 by its prominent calyces (diameter 2.0-4.0 mm and height 1.5-3.0 mm vs. both diameter and height about 1 mm), white cortex (vs. pink), regular 8-radiates in surface cortex (vs. mostly 8-radiate derived globular radiates) and highly ornate medullar spindles (length 185-400 μm vs. no more than 150 μm) (Bayer, 1993; Sánchez, 2005). In fact, the calyces of P. papillata sp. nov. are more exserted than those of all other congeners.

Paragorgia papillata sp. nov. is similar to P. stephencairnsi Sánchez, 2005 and P. yutlinux Sánchez, 2005 in the whitish cortex color, while the other members of the genus are pink or red. The new species can be easily differentiated from P. stephencairnsi and P. yutlinux by the sclerite forms and sizes. The surface sclerites of P. papillata sp. nov. are mostly 8-radiates, while those of P. stephencairnsi are mostly 7-radiates, and those of P. yutlinux are mostly 6-radiates; the medullar spindles of P. papillata sp. nov. are up to 400-μm long, while those of P. stephencairnsi and P. yutlinux are less than 300 μm and 250 μm, respectively (Sánchez, 2005). The data available showed that P. papillata sp. nov. and P. stephencairnsi are distantly related, indicating that the whitish cortex of Paragorgia likely evolved several times.

5 CONCLUSION

A new bubblegum coral species collected from a seamount on the Caroline Ridge in the tropical Western Pacific is described and illustrated as Paragorgia papillata sp. nov. The new gorgonian is characterized by the prominent autozooids, rarely known white cortex color, 8-radiates in surface cortex and highly ornate medullar sclerites. Within the genus Paragorgia, P. papillata sp. nov. is the third species discovered with white cortex and the fifth species found in the tropical Western Pacific. The genetic distance and phylogenetic analysis showed that P. papillata sp. nov. was closely related to P. coralloides Bayer, 1993, but the two species differ distinctly in morphology.

6 DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

Sequence data analyzed during this study has been deposited in the GenBank.

7 ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We appreciate the crew of R/V Kexue and ROV Faxian for their assistance on sample and data collection, and we thank our colleague Mr. Shaoqing WANG for photographing freshly collected specimen onboard. We also appreciate Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, for organizing the expedition.

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