Meeting Abstract
Octocorals are distributed around the world and are found in habitats from shallow coral reefs to the deep sea. Phylogenetic relationships of octocorals have previously been understudied and much of their systematics remains unknown. Using molecular techniques, we investigated the phylogenetic relationships of individuals representing seven genera in six families of octocorals collected during the 2015 CAS Philippine Biodiversity Expedition in the Verde Island Passage. The goal of this study was to determine if there is congruence between molecular and previously published morphological phylogenies for the gorgonian and pennatulacean groups. Examination of color, branching patterns, and sclerite morphology allowed identification of the specimens to genus. Mitochondrial protein coding genes [NADH-dehydrogenase subunits 2 (ND2) and 6 (ND6) and mutS homolog (msh1)] as well as the non-coding intergenic spacer region (COI-COII intergenic spacer) in the mitochondrial genome were sequenced to derive a phylogeny of the seven genera. The molecular results of this study suggest that ellisellid gorgonians and pennatulaceans are sister taxa, which is in contrast to the current classification. Previous studies had mentioned similarities in the morphology of these two taxa. Molecular analysis of additional material from these families must be conducted in order to further test these newly discovered relationships.
