Isopora palifera

Last updated

Isopora palifera
Acropora palifera Maldives.jpg
Acropora palifera in Maldives
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Petalonamae
Class: Hexacorallia
Order: Scleractinia
Family: Acroporidae
Genus: Isopora
Species:
I. palifera
Binomial name
Isopora palifera
(Lamarck, 1816) [2]
Synonyms [2]
List
  • Acropora paliferaLamarck, 1816
  • Acropora prominensNemenzo, 1967
  • Astrea paliferaLamarck, 1816
  • Madrepora cylindrusOrtmann, 1892
  • Madrepora labrosaDana, 1846
  • Madrepora turgidaVerrill, 1866

Isopora palifera is a species of stony coral in the family Acroporidae. It is a reef building coral living in shallow water and adopts different forms depending on the water conditions where it is situated. It is found in the Western Indo-Pacific Ocean as far east as Australia.

Contents

Description

Skeleton of Isopora palifera Acropora palifera02.jpg
Skeleton of Isopora palifera

Isopora palifera can be encrusting, or massive, form columnar branches or parallel ridges of blade-like branches. The shape adopted is much dependent on how much water movement there is at its site of growth; it is encrusting in a strong current or on the seaward side of a reef and is more branching in calm, still conditions. The branches are 5 to 15 cm (2 to 6 in) in diameter and up to 20 cm (8 in) long. Each branch has several axial corallites up to 4 millimetres (0.16 in) in diameter. The radial corallites are cylindrical, large and close together or touching, and project from the branches by up to 5 millimetres (0.20 in). Each has a distinct, large irregularly shaped opening near the tip. The colour of this coral is greenish, creamy or pale brown. [2] [3] This colour comes from minute symbiotic dinoflagellates known as zooxanthellae which live within the tissues of the coral polyps. These photosynthetic algae use sunlight to create organic compounds and the coral is able to use these to provide part of its nutritional needs. [4] Fluorescent granules of pigment are present in the tissues and these are in greater concentrations in individuals growing in high-light environments. [3] Isopora palifera closely resembles Isopora cuneata , and often has similar forms of growth, but I. cuneata mostly occurs in more eastern parts of the Pacific and in shallower water, and the holes in its conical-shaped radial corallites are circular in outline. [5]

Distribution

Isopora palifera is found in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Its range extends from South Africa and Madagascar to East Africa, Aldabra and Chagos, [2] India, China, Japan, Indonesia and Australia. It is the commonest species of coral in the northern part of the Great Barrier Reef. [6] It is a reef building coral and is found subtidally on reef flats, edges walls and slopes. Isopora palifera first appears in the fossil record in Papua New Guinea in the Pliocene. [3]

Biology

Isopora palifera is a vigorous and aggressive species of coral; where it comes into contact with other corals it will overgrow them and kill their tissues. It has a porous structure and is rather fragile so that it is easily damaged by storms. Detached pieces are able to re-establish themselves in suitable locations. The coral is susceptible to black band disease and white band disease. [3]

In a study in Taiwan, it was found that two different algal symbionts, Symbiodinium phylotypes C and D, were associated with the coral. One or both were present at any one time, the proportion of each fluctuating with the time of year, the sea water temperature and changing light levels. It is when neither is present, as may happen when the water temperature rises too high, that bleaching is caused, and when this happens, the coral is prone to damage, disease, and death. [7]

Related Research Articles

<i>Montipora</i> Genus of corals

Montipora is a genus of Scleractinian corals in the phylum Cnidaria. Members of the genus Montipora may exhibit many different growth morphologies. With eighty five known species, Montipora is the second most species rich coral genus after Acropora.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acroporidae</span> Family of stony corals

Acroporidae is a family of small polyped stony corals in the phylum Cnidaria. The name is derived from the Greek "akron" meaning "summit" and refers to the presence of a corallite at the tip of each branch of coral. They are commonly known as staghorn corals and are grown in aquaria by reef hobbyists.

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

Acropora pulchra is a species of colonial staghorn coral in the family Acroporidae. It is found on the back fringes of reefs in shallow water in the western Indo-Pacific Ocean. The oldest fossils of this species date back to the Pleistocene.

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

Acropora aspera is a species of staghorn coral in the family Acroporidae. It is found on reef flats and in lagoons in very shallow water in the western Indo-Pacific Ocean.

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

Acropora loripes is a species of branching colonial stony coral. It is common on reefs, upper reef slopes and reef flats in the tropical Indo-Pacific. Its type locality is the Great Barrier Reef.

<i>Pocillopora damicornis</i> Species of coral

Pocillopora damicornis, commonly known as the cauliflower coral or lace coral, is a species of stony coral in the family Pocilloporidae. It is native to tropical and subtropical parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

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

Acropora millepora is a species of branching stony coral native to the western Indo-Pacific where it is found in shallow water from the east coast of Africa to the coasts of Japan and Australia.

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

Acropora nasuta is a species of branching stony coral in the family Acroporidae. It is native to the western and central Indo-Pacific where it is found in shallow reef habitats. Like other corals of the genus Acropora, it is susceptible to coral bleaching and coral diseases and the IUCN has listed it as being "Near Threatened".

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

Acropora digitifera is a species of acroporid coral found in the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, the southwest and northern Indian Ocean, Australia, southeast Asia, the central Indo-Pacific, Japan, the west Pacific Ocean and the East China Sea. It is found in shallow areas of tropical reefs in the back margins, from depths of 0 to 12 m. It was described by Dana in 1846.

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

Acropora palmerae is a species of acroporid coral found in the northern Indian Ocean, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan, the East China Sea and the oceanic west Pacific Ocean. It is also found in Palau and the Mariana Islands, American Samoa, the Andaman Islands, the Great Barrier Reef, Okinawa Island, Mauritius, Micronesia, the Cook Islands and the Philippines. It occurs in tropical shallow reefs on flats exposed the action of strong waves and in lagoons, from depths of 0 to 12 metres. It was described by Wells in 1954.

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

Acropora verweyi is a species of acroporid coral found in the southwest and northern Indian Ocean, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia, southeast Asia, Japan, the East China Sea and the oceanic western Pacific Ocean. It is also found in the Philippines, American Samoa, Fiji and Rodrigues. It occurs in tropical shallow reefs on upper slopes, from depths of 2 to 15 metres.

Acropora awi is a species of acroporid coral that was described by Wallace and Wolstenholme in 1998. Found in fringing reefs, the slopes of shallow reefs, and sandy slopes, it occurs in a marine environment. The species is rated as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with a decreasing population, and is easily damaged. It can be found over a large area but is not abundant.

Acropora batunai is a species of acroporid coral that was described by Carden Wallace in 1997. Found in protected, shallow reefs, it occurs in a marine environment at depths of up to 44 m (144 ft). The species is rated as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with a decreasing population, and is extremely fragile. It can be found over a large area but, overall, is not common.

Acropora dendrum is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by Bassett-Smith in 1890. Found in tropical, shallow reefs in areas of powerful waves at depths of 5 to 20 m, it is threatened by disease. The species is rated as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with a decreasing population. It is not common but found over a large area, and is listed on CITES Appendix II.

Acropora derawanensis is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by Carden Wallace in 1997. Found in tropical, shallow reefs sheltered from the waves in a marine environment, it is found at depths of 10 to 25 m on reef slopes. The species is rated as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with a decreasing population. It is not common but found over a large area, and is listed on CITES Appendix II. It is easily damaged.

Acropora hoeksemai is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by Dr. Carden Wallace in 1997. Found in shallow reefs in a marine environment, it is found at depths of 8 to 20 m. It is listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List, and has a decreasing population. It is common, listed on Appendix II of CITES, and is found over a large range.

Acropora kimbeensis is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by Dr. Carden Wallace in 1999. Found in marine, tropical, shallow reefs usually at depths of 3 to 12 m, but can occur as low as 15 m (49 ft). It is listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List, and it is thought to have a decreasing population. It is not common and found over a large area, and is listed on CITES Appendix II.

Acropora kirstyae is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by Jen Veron and C. C. Wallace in 1984. Found in marine, tropical, shallow reefs in sheltered areas usually at depths of 10 to 25 m, and also occurs in sheltered lagoons. It is listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List, and it is thought to have a decreasing population. It is not common and found over a large area, and is listed on CITES Appendix II.

Acropora lokani is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by C. C. Wallace in 1994. Found in marine, shallow reefs and sheltered lagoons, it occurs at depths between 8 and 25 m. It is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, and is believed to have a decreasing population. It is not common but found over a large area, including in three regions of Indonedia, and is listed under CITES Appendix II.

Acropora rudis is a species of acroporid coral found in the Indo-Pacific region. It is an uncommon species and is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as an endangered species because it is particularly susceptible to coral bleaching, coral diseases, damage by the crown-of-thorns starfish and destruction of its coral reef habitat.

References

  1. ↑ Richards, Z.T.; Delbeek, J.T.; Lovell, E.R.; Bass, D.; Aeby, G.; Reboton, C. (2014). "Isopora palifera". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014: e.T133139A54202066. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T133139A54202066.en . Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 van der Land, Jacob (2012). "Isopora palifera (Lamarck, 1816)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species . Retrieved 2013-03-06.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Wallace, Carden (1999). Staghorn Corals of the World: A Revision of the Genus Acropora. Csiro Publishing. ISBN   0643102817.
  4. ↑ "Zooxanthellae". Coral hub. CICBP. Retrieved 2013-03-06.
  5. ↑ Ayre, D. J.; Veron, J. E. N.; Dufty, S. L. (1991). "The corals Acropora palifera and Acropora cuneata are genetically and ecologically distinct". Coral Reefs. 10 (1): 13–18. Bibcode:1991CorRe..10...13A. doi:10.1007/BF00301901. S2CID   28849197.
  6. ↑ Acropora palifera. Corals of the World. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 2011. ISBN   9780643102811 . Retrieved 2013-03-06.
  7. ↑ Chen, Chaolun Allen; Wang, Jih-Terng; Fang, Lee-Shing; Yang, Ya-Wen (2005). "Fluctuating algal symbiont communities in Isopora palifera (Scleractinia: Acroporidae) from Taiwan" (PDF). Marine Ecology Progress Series. 295: 113–121. Bibcode:2005MEPS..295..113C. doi: 10.3354/meps295113 .
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.