Porites cylindrica

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Porites cylindrica
Porites cylindrica en Samoa.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Hexacorallia
Order: Scleractinia
Family: Poritidae
Genus: Porites
Species:
P. cylindrica
Binomial name
Porites cylindrica
(Dana, 1846)
Synonyms
List
  • Porites andrewsiVaughan, 1918
  • Porites capricornisRehberg, 1892
  • Porites galeataNemenzo, 1955
  • Porites levisDana, 1846
  • Porites planocellaNemenzo, 1955

Porites cylindrica, commonly known as Hump coral, is a stony coral belonging to the subclass Hexacorallia in the class Anthozoa. Hexacorallia differ from other subclasses in that they have six or fewer axes of symmetry. [2] Members of this class possess colonial polyps which can be reef-building, secreting a calcium carbonate skeleton. [3] They are dominant in both inshore reefs and midshelf reefs. [4]

Contents

Description

P. cylindrica is a hermatypic (reef-building) coral that can grow to a few square meters wide and form micro-atolls. [5] They are typically cream colored, yellow, blue, pale brown or green. [5] Like all stony corals, P. cylindrica consists of very small polyps (1-3mm) that secrete calcium carbonate, with which they build a skeleton. Over time, entire colonies of reef-building corals can grow large, (weighing several tons), and create structural habitats. [3] They are a branching coral, which are characterized by having numerous branches, some with secondary branches, growing in different directions. [6] These types of corals tend to grow faster, allowing them to better find favorable microenvironments than corals with slower growth forms. However, their branching growth form also means that they are more vulnerable to breakage and injury. [4]

Distribution and habitat

P. cylindrica is common to abundant in shallow water areas 1–11 meters deep. [1] [7] They have also been observed 20 meters below surface waters. [1] P. Cylindrica is found in back reefs and lagoons located in the waters of the oceanic West Pacific, Australia, the South China Sea, Japan, South-east Asia and the Indian Ocean. [1]

Biology

Porites cylindrica is a gonochoric coral species, featuring distinct male and female colonies, releasing sperm and egg respectively, as opposed to releasing sperm-egg bundles. [8] Like all shallow-dwelling corals, P. cylindrica gametes are buoyant, and float to the surface of the water to merge. [9] The brooding coral internally fertilizes its eggs, which contain the algae zooxanthellae evenly distributed within, allowing the new coral larvae to be born having already established a relationship with their symbiotic algal partners. [8] The larvae then settle on hard substrate, where they develop into a coral polyp. Once fully developed, the coral polyp replicates itself through budding, dividing into two genetically identical polyps and growing in size and number whilst secreting calcium carbonate in order to form the coral's skeleton, eventually forming into a proper coral colony. [9] However, P. cylindrica relies primarily on asexual reproduction through fragmentation, with new corals growing and developing from pieces of coral broken off from a "parent" coral. Once settled on hard substrate, the polyps making up the broken coral grow and develop naturally and eventually mature into a coral colony that is genetically identical to the parent. [4]

P. cylindrica, like all corals, is sessile, capturing food particles that are suspended in the water column. [10] They build fields of branching colonies, split into populations of males and females, and grow branches resembling fingers measuring about half an inch thick, typically in a light brown or dark green hue. [11] The coral obtains its nutrients through its mutualistic relationship with the algae zooxanthellae, which acts as the cornerstone for its ecological role. Zooxanthellae, a photosynthetic dinoflagellate, is able to obtain its nutrients from the sun through photosynthesis, turning light energy into chemical energy stored in the form of carbohydrates, which it passes on to the coral polyps it inhabits. [10] As with most shallow coral holobionts, P. cylindrica obtains the rest of its necessary nutrients, such as nitrogen, from detritus caught by the current, and the transfer of energy and nutrients through waste and decomposition from organisms higher up the food chain, like fish and marine mammals. [10]

Ecological role

P. cylindrica, as a reef-building coral, assists in providing key reef habitats for many species of fish, invertebrates, plants, sea turtles, birds, and marine mammals. [3] [10] Shallow reef ecosystems also provide coastlines with protection against storms and erosion. [10] They are also economically important, offering a source of food and recreational activities such as fishing, diving, and snorkeling. [10] P. cylindrica is an ideal species for coral rehabilitation efforts because they are able to tolerate environmental extremes and successfully disperse via fragmentation. [4]

Threats

P. cylindrica is susceptible to many changes in their surrounding environments, which may pose a threat to its well being and survival. To begin, as carbon dioxide becomes increasingly prevalent in our atmosphere, P. cylindrica struggles to adapt. When exposed to elevated levels of carbon dioxide, their rates of respiration and photosynthesis experience a significant decrease. Additionally, zooxanthellae densities decline with harmful environmental changes. [12] Zooxanthellae are important members of the coral holobiont, contributing to the construction of the coral's calcium-carbonate skeleton and assisting in health maintenance. As sea water temperatures continue to rise, zooxanthellae struggle to adapt, often resulting in coral bleaching. [13] Sea water temperatures above 34°C pose risks to zooxanthellae populations, which in turn cause the coral to become increasingly susceptible to disease and death. [14] The IUCN Red list of Threatened Species classified P. cylindrica as Near Threatened on January 3, 2008. [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coral</span> Marine invertebrates of the class Anthozoa

Corals are colonial marine invertebrates within the class Anthozoa of the phylum Cnidaria. They typically form compact colonies of many identical individual polyps. Coral species include the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthozoa</span> Class of cnidarians without a medusa stage

Anthozoa is a subphylum of marine invertebrates which includes sessile cnidarians such as the sea anemones, stony corals, soft corals and sea pens. Adult anthozoans are almost all attached to the seabed, while their larvae can disperse as planktons. The basic unit of the adult is the polyp; this consists of a cylindrical column topped by a disc with a central mouth surrounded by tentacles. Sea anemones are mostly solitary, but the majority of corals are colonial, being formed by the budding of new polyps from an original, founding individual. Colonies are strengthened by calcium carbonate and other materials and take various massive, plate-like, bushy or leafy forms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scleractinia</span> Order of Hexacorallia which produce a massive stony skeleton

Scleractinia, also called stony corals or hard corals, are marine animals in the phylum Cnidaria that build themselves a hard skeleton. The individual animals are known as polyps and have a cylindrical body crowned by an oral disc in which a mouth is fringed with tentacles. Although some species are solitary, most are colonial. The founding polyp settles and starts to secrete calcium carbonate to protect its soft body. Solitary corals can be as much as 25 cm (10 in) across but in colonial species the polyps are usually only a few millimetres in diameter. These polyps reproduce asexually by budding, but remain attached to each other, forming a multi-polyp colony of clones with a common skeleton, which may be up to several metres in diameter or height according to species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Staghorn coral</span> Species of coral

The Staghorn coral is a branching, stony coral, within the Order Scleractinia. It is characterized by thick, upright branches which can grow in excess of 2 meters in height and resemble the antlers of a stag, hence the name, Staghorn. It grows within various areas of a reef but is most commonly found within shallow fore and back reefs, as well as patch reefs, where water depths rarely exceed 20 meters. Staghorn corals can exhibit very fast growth, adding up to 5 cm in new skeleton for every 1 cm of existing skeleton each year, making them one of the fastest growing fringe coral species in the Western Atlantic. Due to this fast growth, Acropora cervicornis, serve as one of the most important reef building corals, functioning as marine nurseries for juvenile fish, buffer zones for erosion and storms, and center points of biodiversity in the Western Atlantic.

<i>Porites</i> Genus of corals

Porites is a genus of stony coral; they are small polyp stony (SPS) corals. They are characterised by a finger-like morphology. Members of this genus have widely spaced calices, a well-developed wall reticulum and are bilaterally symmetrical. Porites, particularly Porites lutea, often form microatolls. Corals of the genus Porites also often serve as hosts for Christmas tree worms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elkhorn coral</span> Species of coral

Elkhorn coral is an important reef-building coral in the Caribbean. The species has a complex structure with many branches which resemble that of elk antlers; hence, the common name. The branching structure creates habitat and shelter for many other reef species. Elkhorn coral is known to grow quickly with an average growth rate of 5 to 10 cm per year. They can reproduce both sexually and asexually, though asexual reproduction is much more common and occurs through a process called fragmentation.

<i>Porites astreoides</i> Species of coral

Porites astreoides, commonly known as mustard hill coral or yellow porites, is a colonial species of stony coral in the family Poritidae.

<i>Pavona duerdeni</i> Species of coral

Pavona duerdeni, the porkchop coral, is a coral that forms clusters of cream-colored lobes or discs. They grow in large colonies, divided into ridges or hillocks. The coral is considered to be uncommon due to its low confirmed abundance, yet they are more commonly found in Hawaii, the Indo-Pacific, and the Tropical Eastern Pacific. They make up some of the largest colonies of corals, and have a slow growth rate, as indicated by their dense skeletons. Their smooth appearance is due to their small corallites growing on their surface.

The resilience of coral reefs is the biological ability of coral reefs to recover from natural and anthropogenic disturbances such as storms and bleaching episodes. Resilience refers to the ability of biological or social systems to overcome pressures and stresses by maintaining key functions through resisting or adapting to change. Reef resistance measures how well coral reefs tolerate changes in ocean chemistry, sea level, and sea surface temperature. Reef resistance and resilience are important factors in coral reef recovery from the effects of ocean acidification. Natural reef resilience can be used as a recovery model for coral reefs and an opportunity for management in marine protected areas (MPAs).

<i>Porites lobata</i> Species of coral

Porites lobata, known by the common name lobe coral, is a species of stony coral in the family Poritidae. It is found growing on coral reefs in tropical parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

<i>Porites compressa</i> Species of coral

Porites compressa, also known as Finger coral or Hump coral, is a species of marine stony coral in the family Poritidae. It is found growing on coral reefs and in shallow lagoons in tropical parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

<i>Eusmilia</i> Genus of corals

Eusmilia is a genus of stony coral in the family Meandrinidae. It is a monotypic genus represented by the species Eusmilia fastigiata, commonly known as the smooth flower coral. It is found on reefs in the Caribbean Sea.

<i>Pseudodiploria clivosa</i> Species of coral

Pseudodiploria clivosa, the knobby brain coral, is a colonial species of stony coral in the family Mussidae. It occurs in shallow water in the West Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea.

<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>Anomastraea</i> Genus of corals

Anomastraea is a monotypic genus of corals in the family Coscinaraeidae. It is represented by a single species, the crisp pillow coral.

<i>Dipsastraea speciosa</i> Species of coral

Dipsastraea speciosa is a species of colonial stony coral in the family Merulinidae. It is found in tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans.

<i>Cirrhipathes</i> Genus of corals

Cirrhipathes is a genus of black coral from the family Antipathidae. Coral species in this genus are commonly known as whip or wire corals because they often exhibit a twisted or coiled morphology. In addition to their colorful appearance, with colors ranging from yellow to red passing through blue and green, these species possess a dark skeleton that is characteristic to every black coral.

<i>Schizocyathus</i> Genus of corals

Schizocyathus is a monotypic genus of stony corals in the family Schizocyathidae, the only species being Schizocyathus fissilis. It is a deep water, azooxanthellate coral.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Euphylliidae</span> Family of marine coral known as Euphylliidae

Euphylliidae are known as a family of polyped stony corals under the order Scleractinia.

<i>Porites lutea</i> Species of coral

Porites lutea is a species of stony coral in the family Poritidae. It is found growing in very shallow water on reefs in the Indo-Pacific region. It sometimes forms "microatolls" in the intertidal zone and these massive structures have been used to study trends in sea levels and sea water temperature.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Sheppard, A.; Fenner, D.; Edwards, A.; Abrar, M.; Ochavillo, D. (2014). "Porites cylindrica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014: e.T133496A54274373. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T133496A54274373.en . Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  2. ↑ Light, Sol Felty (2007). The Light and Smith manual : intertidal invertebrates from central California to Oregon. James T. Carlton, Sol Felty Light (Fourth edition, completely revised and expanded ed.). Berkeley, California. ISBN   0-520-23939-3. OCLC   83758750.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. 1 2 3 "How Do Stony Corals Grow? - Corals: NOAA's National Ocean Service Education". oceanservice.noaa.gov. US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Seebauer, Jessica (2001). "Zoology of Porites cylindrica: potential for use in reef-rehabilitation transplantation efforts" (PDF). SUNY Geneseo Journal of Science and Mathematics. 2 (1): 26–34.
  5. 1 2 Hoeksema, B. (2015). Porites cylindrica Dana, 1846. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  6. ↑ "Corals: NOAA's National Ocean Service Education". oceanservice.noaa.gov. US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  7. ↑ The Encyclopedia of Earth (2012). Coral reef zonation. The Encyclopedia of Earth. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  8. 1 2 Hirose, Mamiko; Hidaka, Michio (1 October 2006). "Early Development of Zooxanthella-containing Eggs of the Corals Porites cylindrica and Montipora digitata: The Endodermal Localization of Zooxanthellae". Zoological Science. 23 (10): 873–881.
  9. 1 2 "How Do Corals Reproduce - Corals: NOAA's National Ocean Service Education". oceanservice.noaa.gov. US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sheppard, A.; Fenner, D.; Edwards, A.; Abrar, M.; Ochavillo, D. "Coral reef ecosystems". www.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  11. ↑ Fenner, Douglas; Sudek (2016). Common Corals of American Samoa. Coral Reef Advisory Group. p. 25.
  12. ↑ Hii, Yii-Siang; Ambok Bolong, Abol Munafi; Yang, Teng-Teng; Liew, Hock-Chark (2010-02-28). "Effect of Elevated Carbon Dioxide on Two Scleractinian Corals: Porites cylindrica (Dana, 1846) and Galaxea fascicularis (Linnaeus, 1767)". Journal of Marine Sciences. 2009: e215196. doi: 10.1155/2009/215196 . ISSN   2633-4666.
  13. ↑ Mydlarz, Laura; McGinty, Elizabeth; Harvell, Drew (15 March 2010). "What are the physiological and immunological responses of coral to climate warming and disease?". Journal of Experimental Biology. 213 (6): 934–945.
  14. ↑ Nordemar, I.; Nyström, M.; Dizon, R. (2003-04-01). "Effects of elevated seawater temperature and nitrate enrichment on the branching coral Porites cylindrica in the absence of particulate food". Marine Biology. 142 (4): 669–677. doi:10.1007/s00227-002-0989-0. ISSN   1432-1793.
  15. ↑ "Porites cylindrica". The IUCN Red list of Threatened Species. Retrieved 22 September 2023.


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