LaConBi-Mar
Laboratório de Conservação e Biodiversidade Marinha
Laboratory for Marine Conservation and Biodiversity
Environmental DNA (eDNA)
Marine bioinvasion is reshaping the distribution and biogeographic patterns of species worldwide and is reaching unprecedented levels with hundreds of species being transported to new environments every year. Rapid and effective methods to detect exotic and invasive species are critical to the success of management and control actions. We aim to develop reliable and easily reproducible protocols to detect exotic and invasive marine species using environmental DNA samples.
Image: Leo Francini
Whole genome and transcriptome
Despite their great ecological importance, scientific efforts towards a more extensive knowledge of the complete genome and transcriptome of deepwater coral species remain incipient. The study aims to generate a reference transcriptome and determine the complete nuclear genome for the main constructors of deepwater reefs in Brazil (Madrepora oculata, Solenosmilia variabilis, Lophelia pertusa, and Enallopsammia rostrata). Deepwater corals are essential for understanding adaptations associated with survival in extreme environments, the evolution of the symbiotic relationship in scleractinian corals, and evolutionary and resilience issues of the Scleractinia order.
Image: Leo Francini
Circadian clock in cnidarians
Environmental rhythms regulate the behavior and physiology of all living organisms. The circadian clock mechanism as well as gene expression profiles are widely known for model organisms, but it has been explored for cnidarians only in the last few decades. We aim to perform an independent evaluation of the gene expression, microbiome, and physiological parameters of zooxanthellate and azooxanthellate coral species, correlating them with environmental variables. This is the first study in the South Atlantic on the circadian clock in an integrative and transdisciplinary way and will generate a baseline about the functioning of healthy corals and how the host coral and its symbionts respond to the light:dark cycle.
Phylogenetics and systematics of the genus Tubastraea
A reliable and updated taxonomic information is fundamental to understanding global biodiversity, ecological relationships among species and changes in community structure. The dendrophylliid genus Tubastraea Lesson, 1829 embraces seven currently accepted living azooxanthellate species but their taxonomy remains unclear with unidentified species and misidentifications. The study aims to provide a thorough taxonomic review of the genus Tubastraea with micro- and macromorphology and phylogenomic analyses and investigate the population structure and distribution of the invasive species within the genus.
Population genetics and connectivity
Evaluations of the genetic composition and gene flow among populations are critical for species conservations. Up to date, few studies are focusing on understanding population genetics and connectivity for both shallow and deepwater scleractinian corals. We aim to use microsatellite markers and Restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) to investigate the genetic diversity, the contribution of sexual and asexual reproduction, and the connectivity among shallow and deepwater corals along the Brazilian coast and oceanic islands.