NOAA 'Omics Seminar Series: Rebuilding the Coral Tree of Life to Inform Sustainability of Habitats

Date: June 12, 2024
Title: Rebuilding the coral tree of life to inform the sustainability of coral habitats
Presenter: Andrea Quattrini
Abstract: Anthozoans (corals, sea anemones) are arguably among the most important animals on Earth Yet, accurate diversity estimates are lacking and we do not fully understand their evolutionary history. A thorough understanding of these processes across multiple scales of space-time will greatly inform their future sustainability. Here, I will discuss how genomics is helping us to better document extant diversity of anthozoans and reveal their diversification across deep time. I will also discuss how we are collectively working towards improving reference databases for environmental (e)DNA and how these efforts are directly informing conservation and restoration of coral habitats, with a particular focus in the Gulf of Mexico.