Prof. Yehuda[Hudi] Benayahu
![Prof. Yehuda[Hudi] Benayahu](https://en-lifesci.tau.ac.il/sites/lifesci_en.tau.ac.il/files/styles/research_teaser_image_180_x_180/public/1436104650_Yehuda%20Benayahu_0.webp "Prof. Yehuda[Hudi] Benayahu")
CV
Research Interests
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.
Recent Publications
Recent publications (since 2020)
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-Rodrigueza
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. Pollut. Bull. 2020, 111871
R. Liberman, M. Fine, Y. Benayahu
Simulated climate change scenarios impact the reproduction and early life stages of soft coral
DOI.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 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
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. Rottier, J. Wiedenmann, M. Fine
Symbiotic stony and soft corals: Is their host-algae relationship really mutualistic at lower
mesophotic reefs?
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?
Ecology 2022
R. Liberman, T. Shlesinger, Y. Loya, Y. Benayahu
Exploring coral reproduction in great depth
Doi:10.1002/bes2.2008
Bull. Ecol. Soc. Am. 103 (4): e02008
R. Liberman, Y. Benayahu, D. Huchon
Octocorals in the Gulf of Aqaba exhibit high photosymbiont fidelity
Doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.1005471
Frontiers in Microbiology 13:1005471 2022
E. Nadir, T. Lotan, Y. Benayahu
Xenia umbellata (Octocorallia) is a novel model organism for unveiling octocoral regeneration capacity
Doi: 10.3389/fmars.2023.1021679
Frontiers | Marine Science 10:1021679
C.S. McFadden, Y. Benayahu, K. Samimi-Namin
A new genus of soft coral (Octocorallia, Malacalcyonacea, Cladiellidae) and three new
species from Indo-Pacific coral reefs
DOI: 10 .3897/zookeys.1188.110617
ZooKeys 2024, 1188: 275–304
Y.R. Dor-Roterman, Y. Benayahu, L Reshef, U. Gophna
Host–microbiome interactions in a changing sea: The gill microbiome of an invasive
oyster under drastic temperature changes
Doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12010
Microorganisms 2024, 12, 197
R. Liberman, C.R. Voolstra, B.C.C. Hume, Y. Benayahu
Juvenile octocorals acquire similar algal symbiont assemblages across depths
Doi.org/10.1007/s00338-024-02470-3
Coral Reefs 2024
T. Shlesinger, E. Mills, C.S. McFadden, Y. Benayahu
A dramatic northward range expansion of a Red Sea soft coral in the Mediterranean Sea
DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4938
Ecosphere 2024;15:e4938
C.S. McFadden, K. L. Erickson, A. Lane1, B. Nassongole, S. Aguilar1, S. K. Dunakey, K. M. Durkin1, J.A.A. Lalas, Y. Kushida, L. Macrina, N.P. Minor, M.M. Moraales-Paredes, J. Nelson1, A. Peddada, S. Poole1, R. Porto1, R. Purow-Ruderman, K.E. Snyder, T. Wismar,
K. Samimi-Namin, M.V. Baria-Rodriguez, F. Benzoni, D. Huang, J. D. Reimer, G Paulay, A.M. Quattrini, M. Ekins, Y. Benayahu
Biodiversity and biogeography of zooxanthellate soft corals across the Indo-Pacific
DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-98790-7
Scientific Reports | 2025 15:15461
D. Kletou, G. Constantinou, Y. Benayahu, C. Michai , C.S. McFadden
The non-indigenous tropical octocoral Carijoa established in the eastern Mediterranean Sea
DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107327
Mar. Env. Res. 2025 2010: 1-8
E. Lazar, C.S. Mcfadden, D. Huchon, Y. Benayahu
Redescription of type material of the genus Cladiella Gray, 1869
(Octocorallia, Malacalcyonacea, Cladiellidae) from the Red Sea
DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.5674.1.1
Zootaxa 2025 5674 (1): 1-84
E. Lazar, C.S, McFadden, D. Huchon, Y. Benayahu
Redescription of type material of the genus Cladiella Gray, 1869 (Octocorallia,
Malacalcyonacea, Cladiellidae) from the Red Sea. 5674 (1): 1–84. Erratum
DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.5683.4.10
Zootaxa 2025 5683 (4): 600–600
E. Nadir, Y. Benayahu, M. Ofek-Lalzar, T. Gabrieli, T. Lotan
Diffuse pacemaker mechanism with distinctive organization drives pulsation in
the octocoral Xenia umbellate
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2500611122
PNAS 2025 Vol. 122 No. 46 e2500611122
K Samimi-Namin, Y. Benayahu, A. J. Abadiano, K. M. Durkin, M. Ekins, A. M. Quattrini, C.S. McFadden
Revision of the genus Rhytisma Alderslade, 2000 (Octocorallia: Malacalcyonacea: Lemnaliidae), with descriptions of several new species, guided by phylogenomics
Invertebrate Systematics
