Acropora grandis

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Acropora grandis
Hawkfish.jpg
Hawkfish ( Paracirrhites forsteri ) among the branch tips of Acropora grandis
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Order: Scleractinia
Family: Acroporidae
Genus: Acropora
Species:
A. grandis
Binomial name
Acropora grandis
(Brook, 1892) [2]
Synonyms
  • Acropora disparNemenzo, 1967
  • Madrepora grandisBrook, 1892

Acropora grandis is a species of colonial stony coral. It is a large species with multiple branches forming a bush-like structure and is found on reefs and in lagoons. It is native to the tropical western Indo-Pacific and has a range extending from East Africa to the east coast of Australia.

Contents

Description

Acropora grandis forest Acropora grandis (Staghorn coral) forest.jpg
Acropora grandis forest

Acropora grandis is a colonial species of staghorn coral that can grow into a large clump as much as 7 metres (23 ft) across. In shallow water it tends to grow as a prostrate, tangled bush with thick branches but in deeper water it has a more upright and open structure. The radial corallites are varied in shape and size and those near the tips of the branches are tubular and elongated. The general colour is usually reddish-brown but can be various shades of blue, green or purple. The branch tips are a paler colour, have multiple axial corallites and are fragile and easily damaged. [3] The polyps usually have twelve tentacles, one of which is elongated, and are connected together inside the skeleton by a maze of interconnecting channels. [4]

Distribution and habitat

Acropora grandis is found in shallow water in the western Indo-Pacific. Its range includes Madagascar, Mozambique, the Red Sea, Mauritius, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea and the Great Barrier Reef. It grows in various reef locations but is more common on the upper slopes and in lagoons. [3] The depth range is 5 to 15 metres (16 to 49 ft) and it favours a well-lit site with a strong current. [5]

Biology

Acropora grandis is a zooxanthellate species of coral. [2] This means that it has symbiotic dinoflagellates living within its tissues. These photosynthetic microalgae, combined with pigments in the tissue, are responsible for the colour of the colony and provide a proportion of its nutritional needs. [4]

Acropora grandis liberates its gametes into the sea where fertilisation takes place. Synchronised spawning takes place, and in the part of its range in the Northern Hemisphere, this is four or five days after the full moon. The larvae are planktonic and drift with the currents before settling on the seabed to start a new colony. [4]

When fragments of Acropora grandis were planted into a mid-water nursery bed, over 95% survived and these were later transplanted onto a reef at Phi Phi Islands, Thailand that had been devastated by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. [6] This was successful and showed that damaged reefs can be regenerated with the help of fast-growing corals. [6]

Related Research Articles

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

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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 kosurini is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by C. C. Wallace in 1994. Found in marine, shallow reefs, it occurs at depths of 8 to 20 m. It is listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List, and it is believed to have a decreasing population. It is rare but found over a large area, and is listed on CITES Appendix II.

Acropora loisetteae is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by C. C. Wallace in 1994. Found in marine, tropical, shallow reefs in sheltered lagoons, it is found at depths between 1 and 30 m. It is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, and it is thought to have a decreasing population. It is not common but found over a large area, and is listed under 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 papillare is a species of acroporid coral that was first described by Latypov in 1992. Found in marine, tropical, shallow reefs in areas exposed to waves, it occurs at depths of between 1 and 5 m. It is classed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List, and it has a decreasing population. It is uncommon but found over a large area, including in three regions of Indonesia, and is classified under CITES Appendix II.

References

  1. ↑ Richards, Z.T.; Delbeek, J.T.; Lovell, E.R.; Bass, D.; Aeby, G.; Reboton, C. (2014). "Acropora grandis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014: e.T133013A54176059. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T133013A54176059.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 van der Land, Jacob (2012). "Acropora grandis (Brook)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species . Retrieved 2013-03-19.
  3. 1 2 "Acropora grandis". Corals of the World. Australian Institute of Marine Science. Retrieved 2013-03-19.
  4. 1 2 3 Wallace, Carden (1999). Staghorn Corals of the World: A Revision of the Genus Acropora. Csiro Publishing. ISBN   0643102817.
  5. ↑ Jean-François Fortier. "Acropora grandis: Grand coral" (in French). Aquaportail. Retrieved 2013-03-19.
  6. 1 2 Putchim, L.; Thongtham, N.; Hewett, A.; Chansang, H. (2008). "Survival and growth of Acropora spp. in mid-water nursery and after transplantation at Phi Phi Islands, Andaman Sea, Thailand" (PDF). Proceedings of the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium. 24.
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