Redai dili (Nov 2022)
Fungiidae Classification, Life History, and Biogeographic Research Progress
Abstract
Most species of Fungiidae are formed by a single giant polyp that secretes calcium carbonate, which is one of the main builders of the coral reef ecosystem frameworks. Fungiidae play an important role in maintaining the stability of the coral reef ecosystem owing to their rich species diversity, unique mobility, and strong environmental adaptability. However, few studies have focused on the ecology, physiology, and biogeography of this family. This article reviews recent studies on Fungiidae, including the species diversity, life history (reproduction, mode of nutrient, growth, development, and mobility), and spatial distribution patterns (continental shelf, coral reef geomorphic zones, and latitudinal areas) and their influencing factors. Fungiidae originated from the extinct Synastridae in the mid-Cretaceous period. This family includes 17 genera and approximately 55 species and exhibits a wide range of evolutionary divergences. Additionally, they have unique life history strategies (bidirectional sex conversion and adult mobility) compared with other reef-building corals. Bidirectional sex conversion can trigger the transformation of female Fungiidae into males with less material and energy needs, which could enhance the reproductive success rate and environmental adaptability of their populations. Adult mobility can extend the Fungiidae niche to find suitable habitats and avoid species competition. This strategy will improve the adaptability and resilience of Fungiidae populations to climate change. Fungiidae is a globally ubiquitous reef-building coral, with high species richness in the Indo-Pacific region. They are capable of surviving in diverse habitats such as rocks, sand, and silt and have a wide biogeographic distribution range. Based on the current research progress on Fungiidae and the characteristics of the coral reef ecosystem in the South China Sea, this article suggests the following research directions for the Fungiidae family to provide a basis for comprehensively revealing the potential, strategies, and mechanisms of coral reefs in response to climate change in the South China Sea. 1) Based on morphological and molecular classification techniques, we determined the phylogenetic relationships of the Fungiidae family in the South China Sea and elucidated the changing rules of Fungiidae diversity and their driving mechanisms. 2) By employing ecological investigation methods, we analyzed the distribution patterns and dominant Fungiidae species in distinct latitudinal areas, reefs, and geomorphic zones and revealed their distribution characteristics and rules at different spatial scales in the South China Sea. 3) Using the population genetics research method, we analyzed the historical dynamics and genetic connectivity of Fungiidae populations in the South China Sea and investigated their ecological mechanisms in response to global climate change.
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