Research

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Evolution and Systematics of Holothuroidea Holothuroids are among the most poorly studied echinoderms. Probably half of reef-associated species are undescribed and poorly understood species complexes and nonmonophyletic higher taxa abound. We have long been engaged in a major collaborative effort to estimate the phylogenetic relationships of holothuroids, primarily within the aspidochirotes, which have diversified extensively onto coral reefs.

Estimating large phylogenies using "supertree" techniques Numerous issues in coral-reef biology would benefit from the application of a formal comparative evolutionary approach. Hence, estimating a phylogeny of Scleractinia (over 1314 extant species) is a growing problem in the field. We used the supertree algorithm matrix representation with parsimony to combine existing hypotheses of coral relationships and provide the most comprehensive species-level estimate of scleractinian phylogeny.

Evolution of "key innovations" in Acropora An important hypothesis in evolutionary biology posits that an increase in speciation rate often results from the acquisition of a "key innovation", a trait permitting new or more efficient resource use. Acropora is the most speciose genus of scleractinian corals, comprised of nearly one quarter of reef-inhabiting species. We identify a confidence set of evolutionary models from which we draw several novel inferences about the evolution of diversification rate in corals.

Evolutionary implications of Hubbell's neutral theory of community assembly Evolution occurs in an ecological context. Repeated and rapid radiations of organisms, such as for some groups of scleractinian corals onto reefs, are often accompanied by an extensive and parallel diversification of aut- and community ecologies. This pattern is a major feature of evolution. Yet, there exist few ties between phylogenetics and ecology.

Ecology and Economics in a Micronesian Fish Nomenclature Technical vocabularies have been subject to considerable change, as when the practices which they concern become supplanted through Western economisation. We studied a technical vocabulary, indigenous fish names used in the Mariana Islands, Micronesia. The high rate and pattern of linguistic borrowing are unique in Oceania and result from the interaction between fish ecology and the dramatic change in subsistence patterns experienced by islanders during early European colonisation of the Marianas.

Basin-scale gradients in typhoon-generated wave disturbance to coral reefs Cyclones (also called typhoons or hurricanes) are ecologically instantaneous terawatt events and the most acute form of disturbance to coral reefs likely to be observed in a human lifetime. Early studies assisted in shifting the focus from equilibrium-based models of community structure to those incorporating stochastic events. Future opportunities include consideration of larger scales and the incorporation of theory from fluid mechanics.