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<p>The monospecific genus <i>Nanipora</i> (Octocorallia: Scleralcyonacea: Helioporidae) is considered rare in shallow coral reefs of the western Pacific Ocean. Due to their small size and cryptic behavior, little is known about the habitat preferences of <i>Nanipora</i> or the composition of their associated benthic communities. In this study, habitat and benthic assemblages were characterized across four locations known to harbor <i>Nanipora</i>—three in the Ryukyu Islands, Okinawa, Japan, and one in Dongsha Atoll National Park, Taiwan. We assessed the abundance and population structure of <i>Nanipora</i> and quantified the frequency of biotic and abiotic components occurring in close proximity to colonies. Our results showed that <i>Nanipora</i> is an opportunistic and habitat-generalist octocoral with great plasticity to adapt to a variety of different environments. This variability may support the hypothesis that <i>Nanipora</i> comprises multiple species. Additionally, a potential ecological role of <i>Nanipora</i> was revealed, as it often grows in close association with various algae groups such as turf algae, macroalgae, crustose coralline algae, and Cyanobacteria. Further research should investigate understudied benthic taxa that provide cryptic microhabitats, especially those that are potentially habitat generalists such as <i>Nanipora</i>, which may survive in unique and extreme environments.</p>

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Microhabitat associations and benthic community structure of Nanipora (Helioporidae) across the western Pacific

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年7月29日

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  • Guillermo M. Castelló,
  • Dan Ishibashi,
  • Jue Alef A. Lalas,
  • Iori Mizukami,
  • Mackenzie L. B. Stoeltje,
  • Meng C. Li,
  • Hsiang-Lun Huang,
  • Keryea Soong,
  • James Davis Reimer

摘要

The monospecific genus Nanipora (Octocorallia: Scleralcyonacea: Helioporidae) is considered rare in shallow coral reefs of the western Pacific Ocean. Due to their small size and cryptic behavior, little is known about the habitat preferences of Nanipora or the composition of their associated benthic communities. In this study, habitat and benthic assemblages were characterized across four locations known to harbor Nanipora—three in the Ryukyu Islands, Okinawa, Japan, and one in Dongsha Atoll National Park, Taiwan. We assessed the abundance and population structure of Nanipora and quantified the frequency of biotic and abiotic components occurring in close proximity to colonies. Our results showed that Nanipora is an opportunistic and habitat-generalist octocoral with great plasticity to adapt to a variety of different environments. This variability may support the hypothesis that Nanipora comprises multiple species. Additionally, a potential ecological role of Nanipora was revealed, as it often grows in close association with various algae groups such as turf algae, macroalgae, crustose coralline algae, and Cyanobacteria. Further research should investigate understudied benthic taxa that provide cryptic microhabitats, especially those that are potentially habitat generalists such as Nanipora, which may survive in unique and extreme environments.