Montipora

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Montipora
Montipora aequituberculata.jpg
Montipora aequituberculata
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Hexacorallia
Order: Scleractinia
Family: Acroporidae
Genus: Montipora
Blainville, 1830 [1] [2]
Synonyms [1]
  • ManoporaDana, 1846

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, [1] Montipora is the second most species rich coral genus after Acropora . [3]

Contents

Description

Near Magnetic Island Montipora coral, Arthur Bay, Magnetic Island, January 2016.jpg
Near Magnetic Island

Growth morphologies for the genus Montipora include submassive, laminar, foliaceous, encrusting, and branching. [4] [5] It is not uncommon for a single Montipora colony to display more than one growth morphology. [5] Healthy Montipora corals can be a variety of colors, including orange, brown, pink, green, blue, purple, yellow, grey, or tan. [5] Although they are typically uniform in color, some species, such as Montipora spumosa or Montipora verrucosa, may display a mottled appearance. [5]

Montipora corals have the smallest corallites of any coral family. [5] Columellae are not present. [5] Coenosteum and corallite walls are porous, which can result in elaborate structures. [5] The coenosteum of each Montipora species is different, making it useful for identification. [5] Polyps are typically only extended at night. [5]

Montipora corals are commonly mistaken for members of the genus Porites based on their visual similarities, however, Porites can be distinguished from Montipora by examining the structure of the corallites. [5]

Distribution

Montipora corals are common on reefs and lagoons of the Red Sea, the western Indian Ocean and the southern Pacific Ocean, but are entirely absent in the Atlantic Ocean. [4]

Ecology

Montipora corals are hermaphroditic broadcast spawners. [6] Spawning typically happens in spring. [6] The eggs of Montipora corals already contain zooxanthellae, so none is obtained from the environment. [6] [7] This process is known as direct or vertical transmission. [3]

Montipora corals are preyed upon by corallivorous fish, such as butterflyfish. [8] Montipora corals are known to host endo- and ectoparasites such as Allopodion mirum and Xarifia extensa. [1] A currently undescribed species of nudibranch in the genus Phestilla has also been reported in the scientific and aquarium hobbyist literature to feed on the genus. [9]

Montipora corals are susceptible to the same stresses as other Scleractinian corals, such as anthropogenic pollution, sediment, algal growth, and other competitive organisms. [6]

Evolutionary history

A 2007 study found that the genus Montipora formed a strongly supported clade with Anacropora , making it the genus with the closest genetic relationship to Montipora. [10] It is thought that Anacropora evolved from Montipora relatively recently. [7]

Species

Related Research Articles

<i>Acropora</i> Genus of stony coral

Acropora is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Some of its species are known as table coral, elkhorn coral, and staghorn coral. Over 149 species are described. Acropora species are some of the major reef corals responsible for building the immense calcium carbonate substructure that supports the thin living skin of a reef.

<i>Goniopora</i> Genus of corals

Goniopora, often called flowerpot coral, is a genus of colonial stony coral found in lagoons and turbid water conditions. Goniopora have numerous daisy-like polyps that extend outward from the base, each tipped with 24 stinging tentacles which surrounds a mouth.

<i>Pocillopora</i> Genus of corals

Pocillopora is a genus of stony corals in the family Pocilloporidae occurring in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They are commonly called cauliflower corals and brush corals.

<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>Anacropora</i> Genus of corals

Anacropora is a genus of stony corals in the Acroporidae family. They are sometimes called briar corals and there are seven known species.

<i>Astreopora</i> Genus of corals

Astreopora is a genus of stony corals in the Acroporidae family. Members of the genus are commonly known as star corals and there are seventeen species currently recognized.

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

Montipora digitata, also known as finger coral, is a species of stony coral. It is found in shallow water in East Africa, the Indo-West Pacific, Kenya, Mozambique and Rodriguez.

<i>Lobophyllia</i> Genus of corals

Lobophyllia, commonly called lobed brain coral or lobo coral, is a genus of large polyp stony corals. Members of this genus are sometimes found in reef aquariums.

<i>Galaxea</i> Genus of corals

Galaxea is a genus of colonial stony corals in the family Euphylliidae. Common names include crystal, galaxy, starburst and tooth coral. They are abundant on reefs in the Indo-Pacific region and the Red Sea. They are found in water less than 20 metres (66 ft) deep and favour turbid sites. They are sometimes kept in reef aquaria.

<i>Pavona</i> (coral) Genus of corals

Pavona is a genus of colonial stony corals in the family Agariciidae. These corals are found in shallow waters in the Indo-Pacific region.

<i>Alveopora</i> Genus of corals

Alveopora is a genus of colonial stony corals in the family Acroporidae. Members of this genus are native to the Indo-Pacific region and are often found on reef slopes in turbid water. They are generally uncommon.

<i>Echinopora</i> Genus of corals

Echinopora is a genus of stony corals in the family Merulinidae.

<i>Goniastrea</i> Genus of corals

Goniastrea is a genus of stony corals in the family Merulinidae. Species belonging to the genus Goniastrea forms massive colonies, usually spherical or elongate, with well developed paliform lobes. Polyps can be seen only at night.

<i>Seriatopora</i> Genus of corals

Seriatopora is a genus of colonial stony corals in the family Pocilloporidae. They are commonly known as needle corals, birdsnest corals or finger corals. They are native to the Red Sea, the Indo-Pacific region and some parts of the Central Pacific Ocean.

<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.

<i>Turbinaria</i> (coral) Genus of corals

Turbinaria is a genus of colonial stony corals in the family Dendrophylliidae. Common names for this genus include disc coral, scroll coral, cup coral, vase coral, pagoda coral and ruffled ridge coral. These corals are native to the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Japan and the south Central Pacific Ocean.

<i>Dipsastraea</i> Genus of corals

Dipsastraea is a genus of stony corals in the family Merulinidae. Members of this genus are native to the Indo-Pacific region. They are zooxanthellate corals.

<i>Favites complanata</i> Species of coral

Favites complanata is a species of stony coral in the family Merulinidae, sometimes known as the larger star coral. It is native to the Indo-Pacific region and its range extends from the Red Sea and Indian Ocean to the western and central Pacific Ocean. This is an uncommon species of coral and seems to be decreasing in abundance, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being "near threatened".

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

Montipora grisea is a small polyped stony coral in the family Acroporidae.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 World Register of Marine Species link: Montipora Blainville, 1830 ( +species list )
  2. ↑ "Montipora". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
  3. 1 2 van Oppen, Madeleine J.H. (2004). "Mode of zooxanthella transmission does not affect zooxanthella diversity in acroporid corals". Marine Biology. 144: 1–7. doi:10.1007/s00227-003-1187-4. S2CID   86657478.
  4. 1 2 Van Oppen, M.J.H; Koolmees, E.M.; J.E.N, Veron (2004). "Patterns of evolution in the scleractinian coral genus Montipora (Acrroporidae)". Marine Biology. 144: 9–18. doi:10.1007/s00227-003-1188-3. S2CID   85602339.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Veron, J.E.N (1986). Corals of Australia and the Indo-Pacific. London: Angus & Robertson Publishers. pp. 92–121.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Richmond, Robert (1997). Reproduction and Recruitment in Corals. pp. 175–197.
  7. 1 2 Fukami, Hironobu; Omari, Makoto; Hatta, Masayuki (2000). "Phylogenetic relationships in the coral family Acroporidae, reassessed by inference from mitochondrial genes". Zoological Science. 17 (5): 689–696. doi: 10.2108/zsj.17.689 . PMID   18517306.
  8. ↑ Berumen, Michael; Pratchett, Morgan S. (2006). "Recovery without resilience: persistent disturbance and long-term shifts in the structure of fish and coral communities at Tiahura reef, Moorea". Coral Reefs. 25 (4): 647–653. doi:10.1007/s00338-006-0145-2. S2CID   34270212.
  9. ↑ Fritts-Penniman, Allison Louise (2016). "Ecological Speciation and Cryptic Diversity of Coral-Associated Nudibranchs". UCLA. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  10. ↑ Wallace, C.C; et al. (2007). "Recognition of separate genera within Acropora based on new morphological, reproductive, and genetic evidence from Acropora togianensis, and elevation of the subgenus Isopora Studer, 1878 to genus (Scleractinia: Astrocoeniidae; Acroporidae)". Coral Reefs. 26 (2): 231–239. doi:10.1007/s00338-007-0203-4. S2CID   25263905.
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