Prof. Yehuda[Hudi] Benayahu

Professor Yehuda (Hudi) Benayahu is a world-renowned expert on soft coral biology and taxonomy and his team is engaged with studying their life history, phylogeny, symbiotic associations with algae and invertebrates, biomaterials and natural products and distribution throughout the entire Indo-Pacific region. His research also encompasses topics such as recruitment of invertebrates and fish onto artificial reefs, larval hydrodynamics, invasive species and their associated microbial communities, recreational fishing and developing and testing of environmentally-friendly antifouling paints. 

 

 

G. Zilman, J. Novak, A. Liberzon, S. Perkol-Finkel, Y. Benayahu  Hydrodynamics of contact of a marine larva Bugula nertina with a cylinder J. Exp. Biol. 2013 (DOI:10.1242/jeb.083352)

 

R. D. Haverkort-Yeh, C. S. McFadden, A. Halász, M. Berumen, Y. Benayahu, R.J.Toonen. A taxonomic survey of Saudi Arabian Red Sea octocorals (Cnidaria: Alcyonacea) Mar. Biodiv. Vol. 43, 2013 (pp. 279-291) (DOI 10.1007/s12526-013-0157-4)

 

Y. Hibino1, P. A. Todd, S.-yin Yang, Y. Benayahu, J. D. Reimer Molecular and morphological evidence for conspecificity of two common Indo-Pacific  species of Palythoa (Cnidaria: Anthozoa).Hydrobiologia 2013 DOI 10.1007/s1070-013-1587-5

 

A. Halász, C. S. McFadden, D. Aharonovich, R. Toonen, Y. Benayahu
A revision of the octocoral genus Ovabunda (Alderslade, 2001) (Anthozoa, Octocorallia, Xeniidae).ZooKeys Vol. 373, 2013 (pp. 1-41)

 

D. Edelist, A. Scheinin, O. Sonin, J. Shapiro, P. Salameh, G. Rilov, Y. Benayahu, D. Schulz, D. Zeller.Israel: Reconstructed estimates of total fisheries removals in the Mediterranean. 1950–2010. Acta Adriat Vol. 54, 2013 (pp. 253-264)

 

A. Shabtay, Y. Tikochinski, Y. Benayahu, G. Rilov  Preliminary data on the population genetic structure of a highly successful invading oyster suggests its establishment dynamics in the Levant. Mar. Biol. Res. Vol. 10, 2014 (407-415)

 

J. P. Ruiz Allais, M. E. Amaro, C. S. McFadden, A. Halász, Y. Benayahu
The first incidence of an alien soft coral of the family Xeniidae in the Caribbean, an invasion in eastern Venezuelan coral communities. Coral Reefs 2014 (DOI: 10.1007/s00338-013-1122-1)

 

Y. Gabay, M. Fine, Z. Barkay, Y. Benayahu  Octocoral tissue provides protection from declining oceanic pH PLoS ONE 2014 (DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091553)

 

M. Sharabi, Y. Mandelberg, D. Benayahu, Y. Benayahu, A. Azem, R. Haj-Ali A new class of bio-composite materials of unique collagen fibers. J. Mech. Behav. Biomech.  Mat. Vol. 36, 2014 (pp. 71-81)

 

A. Halàsz, A. M. Reynolds, C. S. McFadden, R. J. Toonen, Y. Benayahu 

Could polyp pulsation be the key to species boundaries in the genus Ovabunda (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Xeniidae)? Hydrobiologia Vol. 759, 2015 (pp. 95-107)

 

Y. Mandelberg-Aharon, Y. Benayahu

Reproduction of the Red Sea octocoral Sarcophyton auritum Verseveldt & Benayahu,1978, within generic boundaries and across wide biogeographical regions. Hydrobiologia Vol. 759, 2015 (pp. 119-132)

               

A. Shabtay, G. Rilov, Y. Benayahu 

The invasive oyster Spondylus spinopsus Schreibers, 1793 into the Eastern Mediterranean Sea: Sexual reproduction enhances its abundance

Molluscan Res. Vol. 35, 2015 (pp. 206-2012)

 

M. Grossowicz, Y. Benayahu

Occurrence and survivorship of azooxanthellate octocorals reflect recruitment preferences and depth distribution Hydrobiologia Vol. 759, 2015 (pp. 85-93)

 

Y. R. Roterman, Y. Benayahu, L. Reshef, U. Gophna

The gill microbiota of invasive and indigenous Spondylus oysters from the Mediterranean Sea and northern Red Sea Environ.

Micro. & Environ. Micro. Reports Vol. 7, 2015 (pp. 860-867)

 

Sharbi, M., J. Isaacs, Y. Benayahu, D. Benayahu, and R. Haj-Ali

Laminated collagen-fiber bio-composites for soft-tissue bio-mimetics Compos. Sci. Technol. Vol. 117, 2015 (pp. 268-276)

 

Y. Benayahu, O. Levi, T. Lotan

Lotan Preface to the 8th International Conference on Coelenterate Biology Hydrobiologia, Vol. 759, 2015 (pp. 1-2)

 

Y. Mandelberg-Aharon, D. Benayahu, Y. Benayahu

Octocoral Sarcophyton auritum Verseveldt & Benayahu, 1978: Microanatomy and presence of collagen fibers Biol. Bull. Vol. 230, 2016 (pp. 68-77)

 

Y. J. Trifman, M. Aknin, A. Gauvin-Bialecki, Y. Benayahu, S. Carmeli, Y. Kashman

Bisdioxycalamenene: A Bis-Sesquiterpene from the Soft Coral Rhytisma fulvum fulvum Mar. Drugs Vol. 14, 2016, doi:10.3390/md14020041

 

Z. Barkay, R. Golombick, Y. Gabay, Y. Benayahu

Droplet Contact Angle measurement on Microstructures of Octocoral Sclerites - ESEM Image Analysis J. Chem. Chem. Engin.  Vol. 1, 2016 (pp. 42-47).

 

L. P. van Ofwegen, C. S. McFadden, Y. Benayahu

Sinularia polydactyla (Ehrenberg, 1834) (Cnidaria, Octocorallia) re-examined, with description of a new species.

ZooKeys, Vol. 581, 2016 (pp. 71-126) 

 

M. Sharabi, D. Varssano, R. Eliasy, Y. Benayahu, D. Benayahu, R.Haj-Ali

Mechanical flexure behavior of bio-inspired collagen-reinforced thin composites Composite Structures Vol. 153, 2016 (pp. 392–400)

 

M. H. Schleyer, Y. Benayahu, S. Parker-Nancec, R. W. M. van Soest, J. P. Quode

Benthos on submerged lava beds of varying age off the coast of Reunion, western Indian Ocean: sponges, octocorals and ascidians Biodiversity, 2016 Biodiversity, DOI: 10.1080/14888386.2016.1190669            

 

M. H. Schleyer, Y. Benayahu      

The soft coral fauna (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea) of Mayotte

Mar. Biodiv. 2016 DOI 10.1007/s12526-016-0621-z

 

E. Shoham, Y. Benayahu   

Higher species richness of octocorals in the upper mesophotic zone in Eilat (Gulf of  Aqaba) compared to shallower reef zones

Coral Reefs Vol. 36, 2017 (pp. 71–81)

 

C. S. McFadden, R. Haverkort-Yeh, A. M. Reynolds, A. Halàsz, A. M. Quattrini,  Zac  H. Forsman, Y. Benayahu, R. J. Toonen          

Species boundaries in the absence of morphological, ecological or geographical  differentiation in the Red Sea octocoral genus Ovabunda (Alcyonacea: Xeniidae)           

Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. Vol. 112, 2017 (pp. 174-184)

 

Y. Benayahu, C. S. McFadden, E. Shoham

Search for mesophotic octocorals (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) and their phylogeny: I. A new sclerite-free genus from Eilat, northern Red Sea

ZooKeys Vol. 680, 2017 (pp. 1–11)

 

 Y. Benayahu, C. S. McFadden, E. Shoham, L. P. Van Ofwegen 

Search for mesophotic octocorals (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) and their phylogeny: II. A new zooxanthellate species from Eilat, northern Red Sea

ZooKeys Vol.  676, 2017 (pp. 1–12)

 

J. Orgel, I. Sella, R. S. Madhurapantula, O. Antipova, Y. Mandelberg, Y. Kashman, D. Benayahu, Y. Benayahu

Molecular and ultrastructural studies of a fibrillar collagen from octocoral (Cnidaria)

J. Exp. Biol. 2017

 

E. Shoham, Y. Benayahu    

Higher species richness of octocorals in the upper mesophotic zone in Eilat (Gulf of Aqaba) compared to shallower reef zones

Coral Reefs Vol. 36, 2017 (pp. 71–81)

 

C. S. McFadden, R. Haverkort-Yeh, A. M. Reynolds, A. Halàsz, A. M. Quattrini, Zac H. Forsman, Y. Benayahu, R. J. Toonen          

Species boundaries in the absence of morphological, ecological or geographical differentiation in the Red Sea octocoral genus Ovabunda (Alcyonacea: Xeniidae)           

Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. Vol. 112, 2017 (pp. 174-184)

 

Y. Benayahu, C. S. McFadden, E. Shoham

Search for mesophotic octocorals (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) and their phylogeny: I. A new sclerite-free genus from Eilat, northern Red Sea

ZooKeys Vol. 680, 2017 (pp. 1–11)

 

Y. Benayahu, C. S. McFadden, E. Shoham, L. P. Van Ofwegen  

Search for mesophotic octocorals (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) and their phylogeny: II. A  new zooxanthellate species from Eilat, northern Red Sea

ZooKeys Vol.  676, 2017 (pp. 1–12)

 

J. Orgel, I. Sella, R. S. Madhurapantula, O. Antipova, Y. Mandelberg, Y. Kashman, D. Benayahu, Y. Benayahu

Molecular and ultrastructural studies of a fibrillar collagen from octocoral (Cnidaria)

J. Exp. Biol. 2017 http://jeb.biologists.org/lookup/doi/10.1242/jeb.163824

 
M. Michailidis, I. Sorzabal-Bellido, E. A. Adamidou, Y. A. Diaz-Fernandez, J. A. D. Grigoriev, R. Raval, R. Wengier, Y. Benayahu, R. A. D’Sa, D. Shchukin             

Modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles with dual synergetic antibacterial effect

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces Vol. 9, 2017 (pp. 38364–38372) DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b14642

 

E. Gutner-Hoch, R. Martins, T. Oliveira, F. Maia, A. M. V. M. Soares, S. Loureiro, C. Piller 1, Iris Preiss 1, Michal Weis, S. B. Larroze, T. Teixeira, J. Tedim, Y. Benayahu            

Antimacrofouling efficacy of innovative Inorganic nanomaterials loaded with booster biocides           

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2018, 6 (1), 6; doi:10.3390/jmse6010006

 

E. Gilad, S. M. Kidwell, Y. Benayahu, Y. Edelman-Furstenberg

Unrecognized loss of seagrass communities based on molluscan death assemblages: historic baseline shift in tropical Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. Vol. 589, 2018 (pp. 73–83) DOI10.3354/meps12492

 

Y. Benayahu, L. P. van Ofwegen, C. S. McFadden

Evaluating the genus Cespitularia Milne Edwards & Haime, 1850 and descriptions of new genera of the family Xeniidae (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea)   

ZooKeys Vol. 754, 2018 (pp. 63–101) doi: 10.3897/zookeys.754.2336

 

D. Benayahu, M. Sharabi, L. Pomeraniec, L. Awad, R. Haj-Ali, Y. Benayahu                          

Unique Collagen Fibers for Biomedical Applications.

Mar. Drugs Vol. 23, 2018 16 (4). pii: E102. doi: 10.3390/md16040102

 

X. Velasquez, D. M. A. Bolaños, Y. Benayahu 

New records of cotylean flatworms (Platyhelminthes: Polycladida: Rhabditophora) from coastal habitats of Israel           

ZOOTAXA Vol. 4438, 2018 (pp. 237–260). doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4438.2.2

 

M. H Schleyer, L. Bigot, Y. Benayahu

Coral Reefs of the Glorieuses Islands, Western Indian Ocean

Afr. J. Mar. Sci. Vol. 40, 2018 (pp. 331-339)

 

Y. Benayahu, L. P. van Ofwegen, C. F. Dai, M. S. Jeng, K. Soong, A. Shlagman, S. W. Du, P. Hong, N. H. Imam, A. Chung, T. Wu, C. S. McFadden

The octocorals of Dongsha Atoll (South China Sea): an iterative approach to species identification using classical taxonomy and molecular barcodes

Zool. Stud. Vol. 57, 2018 (pp. 1-26) doi:10.6620/ZS.2018.57-50

 

R. Liberman, T. Shlesinger, Y. Loya, Y. Benayahu

Octocoral sexual reproduction: temporal disparity between mesophotic and shallow populations   

Frontiers | Marine Science Vol. 5, 2018 (pp. 1-14) doi: 10.3389/fmars.2018.00445

 

Y. Benayahu, T. Bridge, P. L. Colin, R. Liberman, C. McFadden, O. Pizarro, M. H Schleyer, E. Shoham, B. Reijnen, M. Weis, J. Tanaka

Octocorals of the Indo-Pacific

Mesophotic coral ecosystems of the World (Loya Y., Puglise K., Bridge T. eds) Springer, New York. 2019

 

V. Denis, D. Soto, S. De Palmas, Y. T. V. Lin, Y. Benayahu, Y. M. Huang, S.-L. Liu, J.-W. Chen, Q. Chen, N Sturaro, M.-J. Ho, Y. Su, C. F. Dai, C. A.  Chen                

Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems in Taiwan

Mesophotic coral ecosystems of the World (Loya Y., Puglise K., Bridge T. eds)  Springer, New York. 2019

 

E. Shoham, T. Prohaska, Z. Barkai, A. Zitek, Y. Benayahu

Soft corals form aragonite-precipitated columnar spiculite in mesophotic reefs

Scientific Reports 2019 http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-37696-z

 

C. S. McFadden, A. Gonzalez, R. Imada, S. S. Shi, P. Hong, M. Ekins, Y. Benayahu

Molecular operational taxonomic units reveal restricted geographic ranges and regional endemism in the Indo-Pacific octocoral family Xeniidae

J. Biogeography 2019 DOI: 10.1111/jbi.13543

 

E. Gutner-Hoch, R. Martins, F. Maia, T. Oliveira, M. Shpigel, M. Weis, J. Tedim, Y. Benayahu

Toxicity of engineered micro- and nanomaterials with antifouling properties of the brine shrimp Artemia salina and embryonic stages of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus

Environ. Poll. 2019 (pp. 530-537)

 

A. M. Quattrini, T. Wu, K. Soong, M.-S. Jeng, Y. Benayahu, C. S. McFadden

A next generation approach to species delimitation reveals the role of hybridization in a cryptic species complex of corals

BMC Evolutionary Biology 2019 19:116  doi.org/10.1186/s12862-019-1427-y

 

J. D. Reimer, H. Kise1, M. E. A. Santos1 D. J. Lindsay, R. L. Pyle, J. M. Copus, B. W. Bowen, M. Nonaka, T. Higashiji, Y. Benayahu

Exploring the Biodiversity of Understudied Benthic Taxa at Mesophotic and Deeper Depths:  Examples From the Order Zoantharia (Anthozoa: Hexacorallia)

Frontiers | Marine Science 2019 doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00305

 

A. Halász, C. S. McFadden, R. Toonen, Y. Benayahu

Re-description of type material of Xenia Lamarck, 1816 (Octocorallia: Xeniidae)

Zootaxa 2019 (in press)

 

M.H. Schleyer, N. J. Downey-Breedt, Y. Benayahu

Species composition of Alcyonacea (Octocorallia) on coral reefs at Europa Island and associated connectivity across the Mozambique Channel

Marine Biodiversity 2019 (in press)

 

A. Halász, C. S. McFadden, R. Toonen, Y. Benayahu 

Re-description of type material of Xenia Lamarck, 1816 (Octocorallia: Xeniidae)

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4652.2.1 Zootaxa 2019 4652 (2): 201–239

 

M.H. Schleyer, N. J. Downey-Breedt, Y. Benayahu

Species composition of Alcyonacea (Octocorallia) on coral reefs at Europa Island and associated connectivity across the  Mozambique Channel    

DOI: 10.1007/s12526-019-00975-7 Marine Biodiversity 2019

   

I. E. Freire, Gutner-Hoch, A. Muras, Y. Benayahu, A. Otero

The effect of bacteria on planula-larvae settlement and metamorphosis in the octocoral

Rhytisma fulvum fulvum DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223214 PLOS ONE 2019

 

E. Nikolaivits, A. Agrafiotis, A. Termentzi, K. Machera, G. Le Goff, P. Alvarez, S. Chavanich, Y. Benayahu, J. Ouazzani, N. Fokialakis, E. Topakas

Unraveling the detoxification mechanism of 2,4-dichlorophenol by marine-derived mesophotic symbiotic fungi isolated from marine invertebrates

DOI: 10.3390/md17100564 Marine Drugs 2019 17(10): 564

 

G. Le Goff, P. Lopez, G. Arcile, E. Van-Elslande, P. Retailleau, J.-F. Gallard, P. Vlachou, M. Weis, Y. Benayahu, N. Fokialakis, J. Ouazzani

Impact of the cultivation technique on the production of secondary metabolites by Chrysosporium lobatum TM-237-S5, isolated from the sponge Acanthella cavernosa

DOI:10.3390/md17120678 Marine Drugs 2019 17 (12): 678           

  

A.-F. A. Trompeta, I. Preiss, F. Ben-Ami, Y. Benayahu C. A. Charitidis      

Toxicity testing of MWCNTs to aquatic organisms

DOI: 10.1039/c9ra06672a RSC Advances 2019, 9, 36707   

 

M. Grossowicz, E. Shemesh, S. Martinez, Y. Benayahu, D. Tchernov

New evidence of Melithaea erythraea colonization in the Mediterranean

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2020.106652 Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 2020, 236:106652

 

E. Nikolaivits, A. Agrafiotis, E. Baira, G. Le Goff, N. Tsafantakis, S. Apple Chavanich, Y. Benayahu, J. Ouazzani, N. Fokialakis, E. Topakas

Degradation mechanism of 2,4-dichlorophenol by fungi isolated from marine invertebrates

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2020.106652 Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020

 

M. Michailidis, E. Gutner-Hoch, R. Wengier, R. Onderwater, R.A. D’Sa, Y. Benayahu, A. Semenov, V. Vinokurov, D. G. Shchukin

Highly effective functionalized coatings with antibacterial and antifouling properties

DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.0c00998 ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng. 2020 

         

D. Benayahu, L. Pomeraniec, S. Shemesh, S. Heller, Y. Rosenthal, L. Rath-Wolfson, Y. Benayahu

Biocompatibility of a Marine Collagen-Based Scafold In Vitro and In Vivo

DOI:10.3390/md18080420 Marine Drugs 2020, 18, 420

 

J. A. A. Lalas, Yehuda Benayahu, M. V. Baria-Rodriguez 

Community structure and size-frequency distribution of soft corals in a heavily disturbed reef system in northwestern Philippines. 

Doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111871 Mar. Poll. Bull. 2020, 111871

   

R. Liberman, M. Fine, Y. Benayahu

Simulated climate change scenarios impact the reproduction and early life stages of soft coral 

DOIi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.105215 Mar. Environ. Res. 2021, 163

 

Y. Benayahu, L. P. Van Ofwegen, J. P. Ruiz Allais, C. S. McFadden 

Revisiting the type of Cespitularia stolonifera Gohar, 1938 leads to the description of a new genus and a species of the family Xeniidae (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea) Zootaxa 2021 In press

 

        Y. Benayahu, L. P. Van Ofwegen, J. P. Ruiz-Allais, C. S. McFadden

        Revisiting the type of Cespitularia stolonifera Gohar, 1938 leads to the

        description of a new genus and a species of the family Xeniidae (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea)

        DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.4964.2.5     

        Zootaxa Vol. 4964 (2), 2021 (pp. 330–344)

 

J. P. Ruiz-Allais, Y. Benayahu, O. M. Lasso-Alcalá

The invasive octocoral Unomia stolonifera (Alcyonacea, Xeniidae) is dominating the benthos in the Southeastern Caribbean Sea Mem. Fund. La Salle Cienc. Nat. Vol. 79, 2021 (pp. 63-80)

   

A. Muras, S. Larroze, C. Mayera, T. Teixeira, R. Wengier, Y. Benayahu, A. Otero

Evaluation of the anti-fouling efficacy of Bacillus licheniformis extracts under environmental Conditions

DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2021.711108, Frontiers | Marine Science 2021

 

D. Benayahu, Y. Benayahu

A unique marine-derived collagen: Its characterization towards biocompatibility applications for tissue regeneration Doi: 10.3390/md19080419

Mar. Drugs 2021, 19(8), 419

 
J.L. Drake, Y. Benayahu, I. Polishchuk, B. Pokroy, I. Pinkas, T. Mass

Sclerites of the soft coral Ovabunda macrospiculata (Xeniidae) are predominantly the metastable CaCO 3 polymorph vaterite

Doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.08.051, Acta Biomaterialia 2021

 

Y. Benayahu, M. Ekins, C.S. McFadden

Overview of the genus Sympodium Ehrenberg, 1834 (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea, Xeniidae), with the description of new species, revealing regional endemism

         Doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.5072.4.2

         Zootaxa 2021, 5072: 324–350

C. Ferrier-Pagès, V. Bednarz, R. Grover1, Y. Benayahu, J.-F. Maguer, C. Rott Wiedenmann, M. Fine, Symbiotic stony and soft corals: Is their host-algae relationship really mutualistic at lowe

Doi: 10.1002/lno.1199, Limnol. Oceanogr. 2021, 9999: 1–11

 

X. Louka, A.D. Sklirou, G. Le Goff, P. Lopes, E.D. Papanagnou, M.S. Manola, Y. Benayahu, J. Ouazzani, I.P. Trougakos

Isolation of an extract from the soft coral symbiotic microorganism Salinispora arenicola exerting cytoprotective and anti-aging effects

Doi: 10.3390/cimb44010002

Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2022, 44: 14–30

 

Y. Benayahu, M. Ekins, L.P. van Ofwegen, K. Samimi-Namin, C.S. Mcfadden

On some encrusting Xeniidae (Octocorallia): Re-examination of the type material of Sansibia flava (May, 1898) and a description of new taxa

Doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5093.4.3

Zootaxa 2022, 5093 (4): 421–444

R. Liberman, T. Shlesinger, Y. Loya, Y. Benayahu

Soft coral reproductive phenology along a depth gradient: Can “going deeper” provide a viable refuge?           

Doi:10.1002/ecy.3760  Ecology 2022