Revisiting Coral Taxonomy: biodiversity of Acropora across the Indian Ocean

Role

Supervisor

Description

Accurate species identification is crucial for biological and ecological research. Corals, key ecosystem engineers on tropical reefs, are declining due to climate change. However, current coral taxonomy is outdated, hindering our understanding of species-specific population trends and reef ecosystem impacts. This project focuses on the species richness and biogeography of Acropora corals in the Indian Ocean. Partnering with Save Our Seas Foundation, I will collect data from D'Arros island in the Seychelles, comparing it with existing data. Using phylogenomics and morphology, I aim to refine coral taxonomy, inform conservation efforts, and identify species at risk of extinction.

Date

01 May 2025 - 31 May 2025

Project Type

NON_FUNDED_PROJECT

Keywords

Coral;Taxonomy;Phylogenomics;Acropora;Seychelles

Funding Body

N/A

Amount

0

Project Team

Peter Cowman;Charlotte Dale;Andrew Baird;Tom Bridge