Growth Patterns in Long-Lived Coral Species

Galli, Giovanni; Abid, Raza; Priori, Cristina; Benedetti, Maria Carla; Cau, Alessandro; Santangelo, Giovanni; Iannelli, Mimmo; Solidoro, Cosimo; Bramanti, Lorenzo

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-21012-4_15

Cited by 16 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 73 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Madrepora oculata polyps are smaller than those of L. pertusa (Lartaud et al, 2017). The macronutrient flux, although limited by the macroplastic obstacle, may be sufficient to provide the small polyps with food.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Long-term aquaria study suggests species-specific responses of two cold-water corals to macro-and microplastics exposure

Mouchi

Chapron

Péru

et al. 2019

Environmental Pollution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Plastic pollution has been identified as a major threat for coastal marine life and ecosystems. Here, we test if the feeding behaviour and growth rate of the two most common cold-water coral species, Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata, are affected by micro-or macroplastic exposures. Low-density polyethylene microplastics impair prey capture and growth rates of L. pertusa after five months of exposure. Macroplastic films, mimicking plastic bags trapped on deep-sea reefs, had however a limited impact on L. pertusa growth. This was due to an avoidance behaviour illustrated by the formation of skeletal 'caps' that changed the polyp orientation and allowed its access to food supply. On the contrary, M. oculata growth and feeding were not affected by plastic exposure. Such a species-specific response has the potential to induce a severe change in coral community composition and the associated biodiversity in deep-sea environments. Growth and feeding behaviour are unchanged for Madrepora oculata when exposed to plastics. Lophelia pertusa is impacted by microplastics but acclimates to macroplastics.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Long-term aquaria study suggests species-specific responses of two cold-water corals to macro-and microplastics exposure

Mouchi

Chapron

Péru

et al. 2019

Environmental Pollution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…well ventilated but, at the same time, sheltered from predation. In this regard, it is worth mentioning that the flexible organic skeleton of black corals, allowing them to counteract the potential negative effects of high hydrodynamic – even turbulent – conditions (Bo et al, ; Deidun et al, ; Lartaud et al, ), represents an additional protection advantage for developing embryos (Etnoyer & Warrenchuk, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Coral forests share with terrestrial forests the characteristic of longevity of their structuring species (Bo et al, ). In this regard, the black coral Leiopathes glaberrima (Esper, 1788) is both one of the most long‐lived organisms on Earth (Lartaud et al, , Roark, Guilderson, Dunbar, Fallon, & Mucciarone, ) and also one of the main contributors to the three‐dimensional development of the coral forest canopy. This species forms dense mono‐specific patches attached to exposed rocky bench terraces of rocky outcrops (Bo et al, ; Cau et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leiopathes glaberrima millennial forest from SW Sardinia as nursery ground for the small spotted catshark Scyliorhinus canicula

Cau

Follesa

Moccia

et al. 2016

Aquatic Conservation

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

1. Association between habitat structuring organisms and other species has great relevance for ecosystem-based conservation measures.2. Those occurring in temperate areas, particularly in the upper portion of the continental margin, are mostly unknown or not properly understood because of the difficulty to discriminate co-occurrence and real functional linkages among species.3. Deep water coral assemblages over the Carloforte Shoal (south-west Sardinia; 180-210 m depth) were investigated using ROV surveys.4. During the surveys, more than 740 egg-capsules of the spotted catshark Scyliorhinus canicula, identified after hatching experiments in captivity, were found attached exclusively to colonies of the long-living black coral Leiopathes glaberrima. 5.Although based on a spot finding, the results show that coral forests are not only hotspots of biodiversity, but can also serve as nursery grounds for S. canicula. The protection of these millennial coral forests is therefore to be considered a priority.

show abstract

“…Because the rate and density of CaCO 3 deposition by corals varies seasonally, the skeleton has easily recognisable growth rings similar to those produced by trees on land [66]. Like in trees, these rings can be used to estimate colony age and growth rate, and thus serve as a record for historical climate as well as coral bleaching [67, 68].…”

Section: The Skeleton As An Environmental and Biological Record-keepermentioning

confidence: 99%

Beneath the surface: community assembly and functions of the coral skeleton microbiome

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Coral microbial ecology is a burgeoning field, driven by the urgency of understanding coral health and slowing reef loss due to climate change. Coral resilience depends on its microbiota, and both the tissue and the underlying skeleton are home to a rich biodiversity of eukaryotic, bacterial and archaeal species that form an integral part of the coral holobiont. New techniques now enable detailed studies of the endolithic habitat, and our knowledge of the skeletal microbial community and its eco-physiology is increasing rapidly, with multiple lines of evidence for the importance of the skeletal microbiota in coral health and functioning. Here, we review the roles these organisms play in the holobiont, including nutritional exchanges with the coral host and decalcification of the host skeleton. Microbial metabolism causes steep physico-chemical gradients in the skeleton, creating micro-niches that, along with dispersal limitation and priority effects, define the fine-scale microbial community assembly. Coral bleaching causes drastic changes in the skeletal microbiome, which can mitigate bleaching effects and promote coral survival during stress periods, but may also have detrimental effects. Finally, we discuss the idea that the skeleton may function as a microbial reservoir that can promote recolonization of the tissue microbiome following dysbiosis and help the coral holobiont return to homeostasis.

show abstract

Growth Patterns in Long-Lived Coral Species

Cited by 16 publications

References 73 publications

Long-term aquaria study suggests species-specific responses of two cold-water corals to macro-and microplastics exposure

Long-term aquaria study suggests species-specific responses of two cold-water corals to macro-and microplastics exposure

Leiopathes glaberrima millennial forest from SW Sardinia as nursery ground for the small spotted catshark Scyliorhinus canicula

Beneath the surface: community assembly and functions of the coral skeleton microbiome

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About