Branch coral

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Branch coral
Acropora florida.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Hexacorallia
Order: Scleractinia
Family: Acroporidae
Genus: Acropora
Species:
A. florida
Binomial name
Acropora florida
(Dana, 1846) [2]
Synonyms
List
  • Acropora affinis(Brook, 1893)
  • Acropora gravida(Dana, 1846)
  • Acropora multiramosaNemenzo, 1967
  • Acropora polymorpha(Brook, 1891)
  • Madrepora affinisBrook, 1893
  • Madrepora brachycladesOrtmann, 1888
  • Madrepora compressaBassett-Smith, 1890
  • Madrepora floridaDana, 1846
  • Madrepora gravidaDana, 1846
  • Madrepora ornataBrook, 1891
  • Madrepora polymorphaBrook, 1891

The branch coral (Acropora florida) is a species of acroporid coral found in the southwest and northern Indian Ocean, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan and the East China Sea, Cook Islands and the oceanic west Pacific Ocean. It can be found in shallow reefs on the reef tops, walls and slopes to depths of 30 m.

Contents

Description

Colonies of Acropora florida consist of thick upright, and sometimes horizontal, branches growing from a sprawling or encrusting base. There are side branches and small branchlets which resemble knobs. The corallites are evenly spread. The colour of this coral varies, and may be pinkish-brown or some shade of green. [2]

Biology

Acropora florida is a zooxanthellate species of coral. [2] It obtains most of its nutritional needs from the symbiotic dinoflagellates that live inside its soft tissues. These photosynthetic organisms provide the coral with organic carbon and nitrogen, sometimes providing up to 90% of their host's energy needs for metabolism and growth. Its remaining needs are met by the planktonic organisms caught by the tentacles of the polyps. [3]

Status

This coral is a common species and no species-specific threats have been identified. The main threats faced by corals in general are related to climate change and the mechanical destruction of their coral reef habitats; increasing damage from extreme weather events, rising sea water temperatures and ocean acidification. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed the conservation status of this species as being "near threatened". All corals receive protection by being listed on CITES Appendix II. [1]

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<i>Acropora abrotanoides</i> Species of coral

Acropora abrotanoides is a species of acroporid coral found in Indo-Pacific waters from the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden east to the East China Sea, Japan, the central Pacific Ocean and Australia. It is found in shallow coral reefs that are exposed to the action of strong waves, at depths up to 15 m. It is vulnerable to coral bleaching, disease and crown-of-thorns starfish. It is resistant to predation as it has well-developed radial corallite lips.

<i>Acropora aculeus</i> Species of coral

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Alveopora fenestrata is a species of stony coral that is found in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the southwest and northern Indian Ocean, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia, Southeast Asia and the oceanic west Pacific Ocean. It can be found in shallow coral reefs, to a depth of 30 metres (100 ft). It is particularly susceptible to coral bleaching.

<i>Alveopora spongiosa</i> Species of coral

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Alveopora verrilliana is a species of stony coral that is found in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the northern Indian Ocean, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan, the East China Sea, the oceanic west and central Pacific Ocean and the Johnston Atoll. It can also be found in Palau and the southern Mariana Islands. It grows on shallow coral reefs to a depth of 30 metres (100 ft). It is particularly susceptible to coral bleaching and is harvested for the aquarium trade.

<i>Goniastrea retiformis</i> Species of coral

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<i>Montipora aequituberculata</i> Species of coral

Montipora aequituberculata is a species of stony coral in the family Acroporidae. It is a common coral in shallow water in the Indo-Pacific region.

References

  1. 1 2 Richards, Z.T.; Delbeek, J.T.; Lovell, E.R.; Bass, D.; Aeby, G.; Reboton, C. (2014). "Acropora florida". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014: e.T132869A54151400. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T132869A54151400.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Hoeksema, Bert (2015). "Acropora florida (Dana, 1846)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species . Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  3. ↑ Ruppert, Edward E.; Fox, Richard, S.; Barnes, Robert D. (2004). Invertebrate Zoology (7th ed.). Cengage Learning. p. 122. ISBN   978-81-315-0104-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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