Table of Contents Coral Reef Cart Collection

Reproduction and Development

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  Corals reproduce both sexually and asexually. During sexual reproduction, a larval stage develops and eventually settles out on a suitable substrate. During asexual reproduction, an existing colony develops by the addition and growth of new buds, all clones of the original.
  

Mortality/Longevity

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  Little is known about the lifespan of corals. Generally, coral colonies may live for several decades to centuries.
  

Conservation Status

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  Pollution and sediment runoff, indiscriminate collecting of the skeletons for ornaments or jewelry, and destructive fishing practices have degraded reefs around the world. Oceanic temperature increases are thought to be responsible for a phenomenon known as bleaching, caused by the death or discharge of the symbiotic algae. Rising water levels can affect the growth of corals by causing them to receive less sunlight. Also, oceans are becoming more acidic as higher amounts of carbon dioxide dissolve in the water. Increasing acidity reduces corals’ ability to construct their calcium carbonate skeletons.
  

To Notice

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  Use a map to show location of coral reefs.
  
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  Use schematic diagram to show the structure of a coral.
  
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  Show photos of zooxanthellae and zooplankton.
  
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  Show a photo of a live polyp with tentacles visible.
  
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  Compare and contrast the various stony coral shapes. Look carefully at the structure of the struts, called septa, which divide each coral cup. The septa of each species of coral have a particular pattern, which is used for classification.
  
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  Distinguish between branching, mounding, and plate corals.
  
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  Look at pages describing individual specimens for more “To Notice.”
  

specimen details

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  Distribution: Indo-Pacific, Caribbean.
  
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  Habitat: Shallow reef environments with bright light and relatively strong currents. Often dominate shallow parts of the reef, especially the surf zone.
  
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  Appearance: Growth forms extremely variable: slender branched fingers, broad antlers, table-like plates are common. Among the most colorful of reef-building corals; may be cream, yellow, blue, green, purple, pink, even fluorescent. Characterized by light –colored polyps at the tips of branches where budding and growth take place, fueled by the energy produced by zooxanthellae in lower parts of the branch that give it color.
  
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  Diet: Feed on microplankton, mostly at night; significant nutrition provided by photosynthetic zooxanthellae.
  
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  Reproduction and Development: Most Acropora species are broadcasters, a few are brooders; also readily reproduce asexually by budding and fragmentation. Fast growing.
  
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  Remarks: Acropora spp. are particularly susceptible to bleaching when stressed by pollution, warm water temperatures, or excessive sediment or nutrient runoff.
  
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  The most numerous and widespread genus of the stony corals (Order Scleractinia). A major contributor to reef structures worldwilde. The crown-of –thorns sea star (Acanthaster planci) is a major staghorn predator.
  

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  Note the many indentations on the staghorn coral. Each one is the cup-like skeleton built by an individual coral, called a polyp. The polyp lives within the cup, either extending its tentacles to feed or retracting into the cup for protection.
  

Brain Coral Leptoria phrygia (specimen)

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  Distribution: Northern Australia and Coral Sea to Solomon Islands.
  
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  Habitat: Commonly encountered on reef slopes but generally absent in areas of turbid water; also found in shallow subtidal areas.
  
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  Appearance: Colonies are often mound-like or form upright columns with a very lumpy or lobular surface. The narrow valleys are the same width as the walls. The walls and valleys are very sinuous and uniform in width and height. These are usually colored differently: dark green, cream, or brown.
  

Brain Coral Lobophyllia sp. (photo)

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  Distribution: Red Sea through the Indo-Pacific to southern Japan.
  
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  Habitat: Coral reefs.
  
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  Appearance: These corals get their common name from the grooves and channels on their surfaces that look like the folds of the human brain. Colonies can grow 6 or more feet (1.8 m) high.
  
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  Diet: Nutrients provided by algae growing in their tissues and by zooplankton.
  
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  Conservation Status: Coral reefs around the world are in danger. Silt (fine soil) smothers coral when it washes off the land from farm fields, roads, and building sites. More towns and resorts near shore mean more sewage, oil, and chemicals in the water.
  
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  Remarks: While staghorn corals grow rapidly to gain new territory, slow-growing brain corals rely on brawn. The hold their ground by being solid and strong enough to withstand the storms that pound more delicate corals to rubble. There’s more than one kind of “brain coral”—several species from two different families of corals share the name—but all help build coral reefs.
  

Mushroom Coral Fungia sp. (Fungiidae)

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  Distribution: Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea and east Africa, west to Hawaii in tropical and subtropical latitudes.
  
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  Habitat: Among other coral, rubble, or on sand.
  
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  Appearance and Behavior: The typical inverted cap and gilled mushroom-like appearance gives these corals their common name. The structure is home to a single polyp.
  

They are able to produce mucus that damages tissues of other corals and so prevents overgrowth. The mucus also facilitates food capture.

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  Diet: They derive some nutrition from photosynthetic algae. Fungia corals have been observed eating jellyfish, which may be a primary food source for some and a good “fit” for their large mouths.
  
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  Reproduction and Development: Sexual or asexual reproduction. In either mode, a vase-shaped polyp gradually grows into a flattened disc. The polyp becomes attached to the substrate by a stalk, which later dissolves. A scar on the underside of the adult skeleton marks the position of the stalk.
  
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  Mortality/Longevity: Life span of some long-lived species is estimated to be 24-46 years.
  
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  Conservation Status: All corals are threatened, but Fungia more than some as it is valued in both the live and dead coral trade, where it is used for jewelry and other ornaments.
  
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  Remarks: Rather than forming colonies like most corals, Fungia corals are usually solitary and free-living. Because they are unattached, Fungia can be easily moved by waves, and so are most often found in protected places, often at depths where wave action is reduced.
  

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  Mention that the mushroom coral is unique because it is made by a single polyp.
  
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  The prominent slit in the middle is the location of the mouth. The tentacles of the living animal extend from or retract into the grooves that radiate from it. Notice how it could be large enough to ingest a jellyfish.
  
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  Also, point out that the adult mushroom coral, unlike most other corals, is not firmly attached to the substrate. (On the underside, look for the area where the stalk that originally attached it to the substrate was located.)
  
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  Show photo of a live mushroom coral.
  

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  Distribution: Indo-Pacific, including Hawaii and the Red Sea.
  
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  Habitat: Exposed shorelines and the surge zone of reef slopes.
  
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  Appearance: Colonies have highly variable, branching (arborescent) growth forms, usually with rounded or flattened branches, which may be fine or thick. They have a characteristic bumpy, wart-like texture. Small polyps, when extended, give this coral a fuzzy, cauliflower-like appearance. Common colors are brown, green and pink.
  
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  Diet: Nutrients from symbiotic zooxanthellae.
  
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  Reproduction and Development: Asexual reproduction by a somewhat unusual method called “polyp bail-out”: intermittently, often in response to stress, a colony will release polyps that settle and form new colonies. Reproduce readily in captivity, including sexually by the release of planula larvae.
  
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  Remarks: Because they are so widely distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific, one source suggested Pocillopora may be the largest contributor to reef-building in the world. They have sweeper tentacles that intimidate less competitive species, though Pocillopora sp. are not as aggressive as species of the genus Euphyllia (Anchor, Hammer, Grape, and Frogspawn Corals).
  

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  Distribution: Indo- Pacific, Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, the southwest, northwest, and central Indian Ocean, tropical and sub-tropical Australia, southern Japan and the South China Sea, West and Central Pacific.
  
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  Habitat: Variable, from shallow turbid water to clear reef flats and deeper reef slopes. It is found from 2-15m deep.
  
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  Appearance: This coral can be yellow, brown, or sometimes green.
  
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  Turbinaria reniformis may form cup, vase, or spreading scroll-like shapes, depending on light and water conditions. In deeper water this coral can grow as spreading plates in order to enable the polyps to take advantage of the waning sunlight. The difference is so striking between the convoluted forms and the plate forms that they seem to be different species. In fact, if a convoluted form is transferred to deeper water, it will slowly flatten its shape.
  
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  Diet: Many members of this family lack zooxanthellae and are not reef builders. This genus is an exception. Also uses other food sources.
  
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  Reproduction and Development: Unlike most stony corals which spawn in summer, Turbinaria spawns in the autumn in falling sea temperatures. Also, unlike most corals which are hermaphroditic, Turbinaria has separate male and female sexes and probably releases gametes for external fertilization.
  
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  Conservation Status: Although Turbinaria reniformis is still relatively widespread and common in parts of its range, evidence of an overall global decline in coral habitat is an indication that this species is almost certainly declining. It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and in Appendix II of CITES, which makes it an offense to trade. It also falls within several Marine Protected Areas.
  
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  Remarks: When irritated, it can produce large amounts of clear mucus which can damage other corals.