INDUCED DEVELOPMENT OF SWEEPER TENTACLES ON THE REEF CORAL <i>AGARICIA AGARICITES</i>: A RESPONSE TO DIRECT COMPETITION

Chornesky, Elizabeth A.

doi:10.2307/1541466

Cited by 74 publications

(88 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…The distance separating corals and algae affected the readiness to extrude MFs. This has been also shown in interspecific interactions among corals (Chornesky 1983). In this study, Montastraea cavernosa was able to damage plants up to 1 cm away from its contracted tissue, whereas M. annularis was unable to do so only 0.25 cm away.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

“…Xanthid crabs and other reef organisms have been found to interfere with competitive interactions among corals (Bak et al 1982, Chornesky 1983, review by Lang & Chornesky 1990). The segments of Halimeda opuntia in contact with corals seemed to create a suitable microhabitat in which the crabs can feed on adjacent coral tissue.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Madracis mirabilis, Montastraea cavernosa and A. agaricites, have been reported to use sweeper tentacles against other corals (Den Hartog 1977, Richardson et al 1979, Bak et al 1982, Chornesky 1983, Logan 1984. These tentacles can be formed 1 wk following initiation of contact (Bak et al 1982).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The 'stinging' mechanism includes the effect of polyps, sweeper tentacles and MFs. A number of these processes have been documented in interspecific competition among corals (reviews by Lang & Chornesky 1990, Karlson 1999 and also between corals and a range of other animals such as zooanthids and gorgonians (Karlson 1980, Chornesky 1983, Chadwick 1987. However, none has been described for the competitive interactions between corals and macroalgae.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Coral defence against macroalgae: differential effects of mesenterial filaments on the green alga Halimeda opuntia

Nugues¹,

Delvoye²,

Bak³

2004

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Several studies have shown that the growth of macroalgae is reduced when in contact with corals, but very few have addressed the mechanisms involved. This study provides for the first time an explicative mechanism for the inhibition of algal growth by scleractinian corals. In experimental field contacts between 8 species of scleractinian corals and the green alga Halimeda opuntia, corals extruded their mesenterial filaments (MFs) onto the plant. In some coral species, this extrusion was followed by persistent discolouration of the contacting algal segments. Microscopic examination of these segments revealed migration of chloroplasts away from the surface of segments, as well as the presence of nematocysts from the MFs fired into the algal epidermis. There was a significant relationship between the extent of algal discolouration and both the occurrence and length of the MFs, potentially explaining differences among coral species in their ability to damage algal segments. MF extrusion also occurred in experimental contacts with 2 other species of macroalgae (Lobophora variegata and Dictyota sp.). The use of extruded MFs by scleractinian corals against macroalgae is similar to their aggressive behaviour against other scleractinian coral species. However, the ranking of competitive ability against H. opuntia (measured by the extent of algal discolouration) differed from that established in interspecific aggressions among corals. The great abundance and wide distribution of the species of corals and macroalgae used in this study, together with observations of MFs in natural interactions, suggest that the use of MFs is a common and widespread mechanism of interaction between corals and macroalgae. We conclude that coral-algal competition involves complex mechanisms and is therefore likely to represent a complex hierarchical structure, in which macroalgae are not always able to overgrow and kill corals.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Coral defence against macroalgae: differential effects of mesenterial filaments on the green alga Halimeda opuntia

Nugues¹,

Delvoye²,

Bak³

2004

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…Chornesky, 1983; a useful summary is given in Carlson, 1999, p. 97). These structures are also known in gorgonian polyps (Sebens & Miles, 1988), so their presence in two subclasses of Anthozoa presents the interesting possibility that they may also have occurred in rugosans as well.…”

Section: The Space Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Settlement strategy in Symplectophyllum (Cnidaria, Rugosa)

Pickett¹

2016

Geol. Belg.

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ABSTRACT. The early ontogeny of the solitary rugose coral Symplectophyllum from the late Tournaisian -early Viséan of New South Wales is described. The genus is frequently associated with the phaceloid tabulate coral Syringopora, individuals of the former genus occurring within the coralla of the latter, and growing in tandem. A similar association also occurs between Symplectophyllum and the rugosan genera Cionodendron and Pickettodendron, though less commonly. The phaceloid genera suffer periodic mortality events, causing breaks in vertical growth; the settlement of Symplectophyllum larvae appears to be associated with these events. Larvae settle on algal incrustations of the epitheca of the phaceloid corals, not on the epitheca itself. The manner in which Symplectophyllum corallites acquired space for growth suggests the presence of sweeper tentacles in Rugosa.

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Biodiversity and the history of reefs

Wood

2001

Geological Journal

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Current biodiversity estimates suggest that modern coral reefs house between 4 and 5% of all described species, although increasingly sophisticated molecular techniques may reveal the actual diversity to be far higher. The origins and maintenance of this considerable taxonomic biodiversity remain, however, poorly known, particularly as the relative importance of controls that maintain the structure of reef communities differ according to the scale of consideration. The diversity of local coral reef communities is strongly correlated with water depth and differences between habitats. Ecological structure is considered to be ordered mainly by interspeci®c interactions and differential responses to disturbance, whereas determinants of diversity at regional geographical scales include variation in rates of dispersal and recruitment from the available metapopulation. On evolutionary timescales, historical events such as unique radiations of key taxa and mass extinctions appear to be the main controls on biodiversity change. All these processes operate simultaneously, and must be integrated in order to gain an understanding of the evolutionary perspective. Depending upon the scale of population considered, reef communities may operate as both individualistic assemblages of taxa with similar requirements, and as more tightly integrated ecological entities.

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INDUCED DEVELOPMENT OF SWEEPER TENTACLES ON THE REEF CORAL AGARICIA AGARICITES: A RESPONSE TO DIRECT COMPETITION

Cited by 74 publications

References 34 publications

Coral defence against macroalgae: differential effects of mesenterial filaments on the green alga Halimeda opuntia

Coral defence against macroalgae: differential effects of mesenterial filaments on the green alga Halimeda opuntia

Settlement strategy in Symplectophyllum (Cnidaria, Rugosa)

Biodiversity and the history of reefs

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