Abstract:
My doctoral research investigates the diversity, evolution, and symbiotic relationships of the stony coral family Agariciidae in the Red Sea across depth and latitudinal gradients. By integrating genomic and morphological data, I revised species boundaries and characterized the distribution of Agariciidae corals, revealing a significant underestimation of biodiversity and endemism rates in the basin. Phylogenomic analyses of 159 coral specimens identified 23 species, including several undescribed genera and potential Red Sea endemics. In addition, high-throughput sequencing of the Symbiodiniaceae associated with Agariciidae corals uncovered depth-specific symbiont communities, highlighting the role of these associations in shaping coral distribution. Lastly, coevolutionary analyses of Agariciidae corals and their obligate gall crab symbionts revealed host-specificity and cospeciation events. These findings enhance our understanding of coral biodiversity and symbiotic relationships, providing valuable insights for conservation efforts in the Red Sea.

Bio:
Silvia is a PhD candidate specializing in the diversity and biogeography of reef-building hard corals. In particular, by integrating genetics, genomics, and morphological evidence, she is studying the composition and zonation of the family Agariciidae in the Indo-Pacific, focusing on the seas around Arabia. Under the supervision of Prof. Francesca Benzoni, she is involved in different projects addressing the study of stony corals' biodiversity, ecology, and biogeography through a multidisciplinary approach from the shallow to the mesophotic and deep environments. Before pursuing her PhD at KAUST, she earned her MSc in Biology from the University of Milano-Bicocca, following her BSc in Biological Sciences from the same institution.