​The study of marine invertebrate-invertebrate relationships has led scientists to investigate possible coevolution events among the organisms involved but despite the increasing interest in coevolution patterns, studies of marine coevolutionary events are relatively scarce. During my master thesis, I focused my attention on a unique invertebrate-invertebrate relationship occurring in the Indo-Pacific involving stony corals belonging to Robust clade (Scleractinia) and coral-dwelling gall crabs belonging to Dacryomaia genus (Cryptochiridae). As a member of the KAUST Habitat and Benthic Biodiversity Lab, I would like to continue exploring coevolution events among corals and gall crabs and other invertebrate organisms. 

Coevolution ​Coral reefs Symbiosis Biodiversity