DOCSLIB.ORG

Diet of <I>Acanthaster Brevispinus

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Diet of <I>Acanthaster Brevispinus BullBULLETIN Mar Sci. OF 93(4):1009–1010.MARINE SCIENCE. 2017 00(0):000–000. 0000 https://doi.org/10.5343/bms.2017.1032doi:10.5343/ Diet of Acanthaster brevispinus, sibling species of the coral-eating crown-of-thorns startfish, Acanthaster planci sensu lato Hideaki Yuasa 1, Yukihiro Higashimura 1, Keiichi Nomura 2, Nina Yasuda 3 * 1 Graduate School of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Gakuen-kibanadai-nishi-1-1, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan. 2 Kushimoto Marine Park Center, Arita Kushimoto, Wakayama, 649-35, Japan. 3 Organization for Promotion of Tenure Track, University of Miyazaki, Gakuen-kibanadai-nishi-1-1, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan. * Corresponding author email: <[email protected]>. Acanthaster planci sensu lato (Linnaeus, 1758) (crown-of-thorns starfish) is notorious for predating on hard corals the in the Indo-Pacific reefs; however, the natural diet of its sibling species, Acanthaster brevispinus brevispinus Fisher, 1917, is unknown. Only a few reports on A. brevispinus occurrence are available, indicating that A. brevispinus is a rare species. This species occurs in the Philippines (Fisher 1919), the Great Barrier Reef, Australia (Birkeland and Lucas 1990), and off the town of Kushimoto, south of the Japanese mainland (Saba et al. 2002). Although population outbreaks of A. planci sensu lato have been well documented, there have been no reports of outbreaks of A. brevispinus. According to Lucas and Jones (1976), A. planci sensu lato and A. brevispinus differ in preferred habitat and morphology, but they are genetically compatible, indicating recent speciation. Lucas and Jones (1976) suggested that A. planci sensu lato evolved from an A. brevispinus-like ancestor that inhabited Bulletin ofof MarineMarine Science Science 1009 © 2017 2011 Rosenstiel Rosenstiel School School of of MarineMarine &and Atmospheric Atmospheric Science Science of theof the University University of of Miami Miami Portraits of Marine Science 1010 BULLETINBulletin OF of MARINEMarine Science. SCIENCE. Vol VOL 93, 00, No NO 4. 0.2017 0000 deep, sandy areas and infrequently fed on reef-building corals. To our knowledge, ours is the first report on the diet ofA. brevispinus from a temperate coral reef region off Japan. All A. brevispinus individuals found around Kushimoto (33.2835°N, 135.3955°E) between 2003 and 2016 were observed feeding exclusively on soft corals, especially Dendronephthya species (e.g., Dendronephthya nipponica Utinomi, 1952 and Dendronephthya (Morchellana) habereri Kükenthal, 1905), even when the preferred prey of A. planci sensu lato (Acropora corals such as Acropora solitaryensis Veron and Wallace, 1984) were more abundant (A: March 19, 2003, at a depth of 20 m; B: August 31, 2006, at a depth of 20 m; C: January 31, 2007, at a depth of 18 m. All photographs were taken by the Kushimoto Marine Park Center.). An aggregation of approximately 20 A. brevispinus individuals and 10 A. planci sensu lato individuals was observed in 2003 within a 100-m2 area of a rocky reef off the coast of Kushimoto at a depth of 20 m. In 2003, the warm Kuroshio Current was nearby Kushimoto, suggesting that higher temperature and/or larval transport from the southern region were associated with this aggregation. Following this event, outbreaks of A. planci sensu lato, occurring at 11.1 starfish per 15 min (approximately 2000 m2), were reported in Kushimoto waters in 2004 (in total, more than 10,000 A. planci sensu lato per year were removed), and this abundance was maintained until 2008 (Nomura 2009). In contrast, very few A. brevispinus were found after Dendronephthya soft corals had been mostly depleted in 2004. Off Kushimoto, hard corals (such as Acropora spp.) are much more abundant than soft corals, including Dendronephthya spp. A decrease in the amount of available food for A. brevispinus after 2004 may be associated with a lower survival rate and/or reproductive output than A. planci sensu lato, and consequently could have resulted in a lower population density. Our observation also provides new insight into the mechanism of reproductive isolation between A. brevispinus and A. planci sensu lato. Unlike on the Great Barrier Reef, where A. brevispinus and A. planci sensu lato inhabit different areas (Lucas and Jones 1976), we found these two species to be sympatric off Kushimoto, indicative of some biological mechanisms to avoid natural hybridization, such as variation in spawning time. Given that adult size and fecundity of the two species are comparable (Lucas and Jones 1976) and that A. brevispinus have never exhibited population outbreaks, the evolutionary divergence of a coral-specialist such as A. planci sensu lato from an A. brevispinus-like ancestor may have changed the fate of Indo- Pacific reef ecosystems. Further understanding of the ecological differences between sibling species will provide important clues with regard to the population outbreaks exhibited by A. planci sensu lato (Yasuda 2017). Acknowledgments This research was funded by the Environment Research and Technology Development Fund of the Ministry of the Environment, Japan (4RF-1501), JSPS KAKENHI Grant Numbers 17H04996 Grant-in- Aid for Young Scientists and the Program to Disseminate Tenure Tracking System from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). Literature Cited Birkeland EC, Lucas SJ. 1990. Acanthaster planci: major management problem of coral reefs. Boca Raton: CRC Press. Fisher WK. 1919. Starfishes of the Philippine seas and adjacent waters. Washington, DC: Bulletin of the United States National Museum. Lucas J, Jones M. 1976. Hybrid crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci × A. brevispinus) reared to maturity in the laboratory. Nature. 263:409–412. https://doi.org/10.1038/263409a0 Nomura K. 2009. Recent changes in coral communities in Kushimoto, the southernmost part of Honshu, Japan. Journal of the Japanese Coral Reef Society. 11(1): 39–49. (in Japanese). https://doi.org/10.3755/ jcrs.11.39 Saba M, Irimura S, Soyama I. 2002. Sea stars and brittle stars in Japanese Waters. Tokyo: TBS Britannica. In Japanese. Yasuda N. 2017. Distribution expansion and historical population outbreak patterns of crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci, in Japan from 1912 to 2015. In: Iguchi A, Hongo C, editors. Coral reef studies of Japan. Tokyo: Springer Japan KK. In press. B Date Submitted: 23 March, 2017. M Date Accepted: 18 May, 2017. S Available Online: 26 June, 2017..
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Phytoplankton: a Significant Trophic Source for Soft Corals?
    Helgol Mar Res (2001) 55:198–211 DOI 10.1007/s101520100075 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Alexander Widdig · Dietrich Schlichter Phytoplankton: a significant trophic source for soft corals? Received: 4 July 2000 / Received in revised form: 17 April 2001 / Accepted: 17 April 2001 / Published online: 20 June 2001 © Springer-Verlag and AWI 2001 Abstract Histological autoradiographs and biochemical variety of mechanisms from different trophic sources. analyses show that 14C-labelled microalgae (diatoms, The polytrophic nature of the anthozoans varies greatly chlorophytes and dinoflagellates) are used by the soft among species with respect to morphology, habitats and coral Dendronephthya sp. Digestion of the algae took availability and diversity of food. The lack of reliable in- place at the point of exit of the pharynx into the coelen- formation on the total food supply and its constituents teron. Ingestion and assimilation of the labelled algae de- for a particular habitat, including interactions of physico- pended on incubation time, cell density, and to a lesser chemical, hydrological and biological factors, limits our extent on species-specificity. 14C incorporation into understanding of the feeding biology of anthozoans. polysaccharides, proteins, lipids and compounds of low Heterotrophy includes the uptake of particulate liv- molecular weight was analysed. The 14C-labelling pat- ing and dead organic matter (POM) and the absorption terns of the four classes of substances varied depending of dissolved organic material (DOM). In zooxanthellate on incubation time and cell density. 14C incorporation species, the phototrophic supply is delivered by endo- was highest into lipids and proteins. Dissolved labelled symbiotic microalgae (zooxanthellae = dinoflagellates algal metabolites, released during incubation into the of the Symbiodinium microadriaticum group; Carlos medium, contributed between 4% and 25% to the total et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Information Exchange for Marine Educators
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Information Exchange for Marine Educators Archive of Educational Programs, Activities, and Websites Environmental and Ocean Literacy Environmental literacy is key to preserving the nation's natural resources for current and future use and enjoyment. An environmentally literate public results in increased stewardship of the natural environment. Many organizations are working to increase the understanding of students, teachers, and the general public about the environment in general, and the oceans and coasts in particular. The following are just some of the large-scale and regional initiatives which seek to provide standards and guidance for our educational efforts and form partnerships to reach broader audiences. (In the interest of brevity, please forgive the abbreviations, the abbreviated lists of collaborators, and the lack of mention of funding institutions). The lists are far from inclusive. Please send additional entries for inclusion in future newsletters. Background Documents Environmental Literacy in America - What 10 Years of NEETF/Roper Research and Related Studies Say About Environmental Literacy in the U.S. http://www.neetf.org/pubs/index.htm The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy devoted a full chapter on promoting lifelong ocean education, Ocean Stewardship: The Importance of Education and Public Awareness. It reviews the current status of ocean education and provides recommendations for strengthening national educational capacity. http://www.oceancommission.gov/documents/full_color_rpt/08_chapter8.pdf Environmental and Ocean Literacy and Standards Mainstreaming Environmental Education – The North American Association for Environmental Education is involved with efforts to make high-quality environmental education part of all education in the United States and has initiated the National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education.
    [Show full text]
  • Two New Records of Dendronephthya Octocorals (Family: Nephtheidae) from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
    Indian Journal of Geo Marine Sciences Vol. 48 (03), March 2019, pp. 343-348 Two new records of Dendronephthya octocorals (Family: Nephtheidae) from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India J.S. Yogesh Kumar1*, S. Geetha2, C. Raghunathan3, & R. Sornaraj2 1 Marine Aquarium and Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change), Government of India, Digha, West Bengal, India 2 Research Department of Zoology, Kamaraj College (Manonmaniam Sundaranar University), Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, India 3 Zoological Survey of India, (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change), Government of India, M Block, New Alipore, Kolkata, India *[E-mail: [email protected]] Received 04 August 2017: revised 23 November 2017 An extensive survey to explore the variety and distribution of octocorals and associated faunal community in and around the Andaman and Nicobar Islands yielded two species (Dendronephthya mucronata and D. savignyi), which is new zoogeographical record in India. The elaborate description, distribution and morphological characters are presented in this paper. The literature reveals that so far 55 species of Dendronephthya octocorals have been recorded from India. [Keywords: Soft corals, Octocorals, Dendronephthya, Carnation corals, Andaman and Nicobar islands] Introduction circumscribed to the works of Henderson17. The The genus Dendronephthya (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: above studies reported 53 new species. Henderson's Alcyonacea: Nephtheidae) is an azooxanthellate and work was based on the material made available from colourful soft coral reported in the warm coastal the Royal Indian Marine Survey ship collections from waters of the Indo-Pacific region, supporting reef several Indian Ocean locations, of which 34 species formation of coral reef ecosystems throughout the were reported from Andaman and Nicobar islands.
    [Show full text]
  • BIOT Field Report
    ©2015 Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation. All Rights Reserved. Science Without Borders®. All research was completed under: British Indian Ocean Territory, The immigration Ordinance 2006, Permit for Visit. Dated 10th April, 2015, issued by Tom Moody, Administrator. This report was developed as one component of the Global Reef Expedition: BIOT research project. Citation: Global Reef Expedition: British Indian Ocean Territory. Field Report 19. Bruckner, A.W. (2015). Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, Annapolis, MD. pp 36. The Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation (KSLOF) was incorporated in California as a 501(c)(3), public benefit, Private Operating Foundation in September 2000. The Living Oceans Foundation is dedicated to providing science-based solutions to protect and restore ocean health. For more information, visit http://www.lof.org and https://www.facebook.com/livingoceansfoundation Twitter: https://twitter.com/LivingOceansFdn Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation 130 Severn Avenue Annapolis, MD, 21403, USA [email protected] Executive Director Philip G. Renaud Chief Scientist Andrew W. Bruckner, Ph.D. Images by Andrew Bruckner, unless noted. Maps completed by Alex Dempsey, Jeremy Kerr and Steve Saul Fish observations compiled by Georgia Coward and Badi Samaniego Front cover: Eagle Island. Photo by Ken Marks. Back cover: A shallow reef off Salomon Atoll. The reef is carpeted in leather corals and a bleached anemone, Heteractis magnifica, is visible in the fore ground. A school of giant trevally, Caranx ignobilis, pass over the reef. Photo by Phil Renaud. Executive Summary Between 7 March 2015 and 3 May 2015, the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation conducted two coral reef research missions as components of our Global Reef Expedition (GRE) program.
    [Show full text]
  • The Global Trade in Marine Ornamental Species
    From Ocean to Aquarium The global trade in marine ornamental species Colette Wabnitz, Michelle Taylor, Edmund Green and Tries Razak From Ocean to Aquarium The global trade in marine ornamental species Colette Wabnitz, Michelle Taylor, Edmund Green and Tries Razak ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS UNEP World Conservation This report would not have been The authors would like to thank Helen Monitoring Centre possible without the participation of Corrigan for her help with the analyses 219 Huntingdon Road many colleagues from the Marine of CITES data, and Sarah Ferriss for Cambridge CB3 0DL, UK Aquarium Council, particularly assisting in assembling information Tel: +44 (0) 1223 277314 Aquilino A. Alvarez, Paul Holthus and and analysing Annex D and GMAD data Fax: +44 (0) 1223 277136 Peter Scott, and all trading companies on Hippocampus spp. We are grateful E-mail: [email protected] who made data available to us for to Neville Ash for reviewing and editing Website: www.unep-wcmc.org inclusion into GMAD. The kind earlier versions of the manuscript. Director: Mark Collins assistance of Akbar, John Brandt, Thanks also for additional John Caldwell, Lucy Conway, Emily comments to Katharina Fabricius, THE UNEP WORLD CONSERVATION Corcoran, Keith Davenport, John Daphné Fautin, Bert Hoeksema, Caroline MONITORING CENTRE is the biodiversity Dawes, MM Faugère et Gavand, Cédric Raymakers and Charles Veron; for assessment and policy implemen- Genevois, Thomas Jung, Peter Karn, providing reprints, to Alan Friedlander, tation arm of the United Nations Firoze Nathani, Manfred Menzel, Julie Hawkins, Sherry Larkin and Tom Environment Programme (UNEP), the Davide di Mohtarami, Edward Molou, Ogawa; and for providing the picture on world’s foremost intergovernmental environmental organization.
    [Show full text]
  • Nations Unies
    UNITED NATIONS EP UNEP/EA.4/Res.13 Distr.: General 28 March 2019 Original: English United Nations Environment Assembly of the United Nations Environment Programme United Nations Environment Assembly of the United Nations Environment Programme Fourth session Nairobi, 11–15 March 2019 Resolution adopted by the United Nations Environment Assembly on 15 March 2019 4/13. Sustainable coral reefs management The United Nations Environment Assembly, Recalling General Assembly resolution 65/150 of 20 December 2010 on protection of coral reefs for sustainable livelihoods and development, in which the General Assembly urged States, within their national jurisdictions, and the competent international organizations, within their mandates, given the imperative for action, to take all practical steps at all levels to protect coral reefs and related ecosystems for sustainable livelihoods and development, including immediate and concerted global, regional and local action to respond to the challenges and to address the adverse impact of climate change, including through mitigation and adaptation, as well as of ocean acidification, on coral reefs and related ecosystems, Recalling also United Nations Environment Assembly resolution 2/12 on sustainable coral reef management, and noting the importance of strengthened implementation at the national and regional levels, Recalling further the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, entitled “The future we want”,1 endorsed by General Assembly resolution 66/288 of 27 July 2012, which states, “We also recognize the significant economic, social and environmental contributions of coral reefs, in particular to islands and other coastal States, as well as the significant vulnerability of coral reefs and mangroves to impacts, including from climate change, ocean acidification, overfishing, destructive fishing practices, and pollution.
    [Show full text]
  • Host-Microbe Interactions in Octocoral Holobionts - Recent Advances and Perspectives Jeroen A
    van de Water et al. Microbiome (2018) 6:64 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40168-018-0431-6 REVIEW Open Access Host-microbe interactions in octocoral holobionts - recent advances and perspectives Jeroen A. J. M. van de Water* , Denis Allemand and Christine Ferrier-Pagès Abstract Octocorals are one of the most ubiquitous benthic organisms in marine ecosystems from the shallow tropics to the Antarctic deep sea, providing habitat for numerous organisms as well as ecosystem services for humans. In contrast to the holobionts of reef-building scleractinian corals, the holobionts of octocorals have received relatively little attention, despite the devastating effects of disease outbreaks on many populations. Recent advances have shown that octocorals possess remarkably stable bacterial communities on geographical and temporal scales as well as under environmental stress. This may be the result of their high capacity to regulate their microbiome through the production of antimicrobial and quorum-sensing interfering compounds. Despite decades of research relating to octocoral-microbe interactions, a synthesis of this expanding field has not been conducted to date. We therefore provide an urgently needed review on our current knowledge about octocoral holobionts. Specifically, we briefly introduce the ecological role of octocorals and the concept of holobiont before providing detailed overviews of (I) the symbiosis between octocorals and the algal symbiont Symbiodinium; (II) the main fungal, viral, and bacterial taxa associated with octocorals; (III) the dominance of the microbial assemblages by a few microbial species, the stability of these associations, and their evolutionary history with the host organism; (IV) octocoral diseases; (V) how octocorals use their immune system to fight pathogens; (VI) microbiome regulation by the octocoral and its associated microbes; and (VII) the discovery of natural products with microbiome regulatory activities.
    [Show full text]
  • The Importance of Phytoplankton for Feeding Corals
    The importance of phytoplankton for feeding corals Text & Photos : José María Cid Ruiz The whole of tropical coral species usually marketed and kept in aquarium (Phylum: Cnidaria Class: Anthozoa ), are taxono- mically concentrated in a small number of orders (Subclass Hexacorallia, orders: Sclerac!nia, Ac!niaria, Zoantharia, An- !phataria ). Subclass Octocorallia, orders: Stolonifera, Alcyo-lc yo - nacea, Gorgonaria, Corallimorfaria ) . Among aquarists,ri st s, in po- pular language, are called "so! corals” those speciessp ecies thathatt sup- port individual polyps colony by a flexibilityil it y connec$connec$veve $ssue (as is the case in Alcyonacea ) or byy cornealco rneal !ssue such as gor- gonians. Similarly, are referreded under the term "hard/s"hard/stonytony corals" species whose skeletogenesissk el etogenesis includes the foformrma$ona$ on of a hard structuree (formed(f or me d by aragonite at 90% andan d theth e re-re - maining 10% byb y calcitecalc it e andan d magnesiumma gn esium and stron$umstron$ um salts al tss).). Covering thishi s hard skeletonske le to n emergesem er ge s soso!! connec$veconn ec $v e $ssuesu e that houses bothbo th individualindivid ua l polypspo ly ps asa s differentdi ffe rent specialspe ci alizizeded ce- lls belonging to thet he colony.colon y. HardH ar d corals,co ra ls , as isi s wellwe ll known,no wn, con- sidering the size of theirthe ir polypspol yp s arear e popularlypo pu la rl y knownkn ow n as "small polyp corals " (SPS) anda nd "large polypp ol yp coralc or al " (LPS).( LP S) .
    [Show full text]
  • Sanganeb Atoll, Sudan a Marine National Park with Scientific Criteria for Ecologically Significant Marine Areas Abstract
    Sanganeb Atoll, Sudan A Marine National Park with Scientific Criteria for Ecologically Significant Marine Areas Abstract Sanganeb Marine National Park (SMNP) is one of the most unique reef structures in the Sudanese Red Sea whose steep slopes rise from a sea floor more than 800 m deep. It is located at approximately 30km north-east of Port Sudan city at 19° 42 N, 37° 26 E. The Atoll is characterized by steep slopes on all sides. The dominated coral reef ecosystem harbors significant populations of fauna and flora in a stable equilibrium with numerous endemic and endangered species. The reefs are distinctive of their high number of species, diverse number of habitats, and high endemism. The atoll has a diverse coral fauna with a total of 86 coral species being recorded. The total number of species of algae, polychaetes, fish, and Cnidaria has been confirmed as occurring at Sanganeb Atoll. Research activities are currently being conducted; yet several legislative decisions are needed at the national level in addition to monitoring. Introduction (To include: feature type(s) presented, geographic description, depth range, oceanography, general information data reported, availability of models) Sanganeb Atoll was declared a marine nation park in 1990. Sanganeb Marine National Park (SMNP) is one of the most unique reef structures in the Sudanese Red Sea whose steep slopes rise from a sea floor more than 800 m deep (Krupp, 1990). With the exception of the man-made structures built on the reef flat in the south, there is no dry land at SMNP (Figure 1). The Atoll is characterized by steep slopes on all sides with terraces in their upper parts and occasional spurs and pillars (Sheppard and Wells, 1988).
    [Show full text]
  • U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Award Recipients Washington, D.C. May 2006
    U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Award Recipients Washington, D.C. May 2006 Outstanding Scientific Advancement of Knowledge Dr. Joseph H. Connell For advancing scientific understanding of coral reef community dynamics and the mechanisms that maintain, harm and facilitate coral reef recovery through outstanding long-term observations, research, and the development of ground- breaking ecological theories. Dr. Joseph Connell is a Research Professor in the Ecology, Evolution & Marine Biology Department at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Connell’s research has contributed to effective management of coral reefs through the development of invaluable ecological theories and empirical knowledge. His research was designed to increase the understanding of the mechanisms that maintain, harm, and facilitate recovery in coral reef ecosystems. Connell has spent over four decades studying the processes that influence community structure and species patterning in the coral reefs and rain forests of Australia, as well as the California coastal marine environment. Long-term observation and sampling by Connell of ecological communities of corals and algae on the Great Barrier Reef has arguably produced the single most valuable data set available for coral reef communities. Connell has been continuously funded (since 1962) by the National Science Foundation’s Division of Ocean Sciences and Division of Environmental Biology. Dr. John C. Ogden For outstanding efforts to promote scientific understanding of coral reefs, from advancing undersea research to facilitating the application of science in organizations undertaking coral reef research, management and conservation throughout the world. Dr. John Ogden has been a Professor of Biology at the University of South Florida and Director of the Florida Institute of Oceanography since 1988.
    [Show full text]
  • A Vulnerability Assessment of Coral Taxa Collected in the Queensland Coral Fishery
    Queensland the Smart State A vulnerability assessment of coral taxa collected in the Queensland Coral Fishery October 2008 Anthony Roelofs & Rebecca Silcock Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries PR08–4088 This document may be cited as: Roelofs, A & Silcock, R 2008, A vulnerability assessment of coral taxa collected in the Queensland Coral Fishery, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Brisbane. Acknowledgements: This study was successful due to the support, advice and knowledge of representatives from the fishing industry, research community, conservation agencies and DPI&F. The authors sincerely thank the following people: Fishing industry; Lyle Squire Snr., Lyle Squire Jnr., Allan Cousland, Ros Paterson, Rob Lowe Research; Dr Morgan Pratchett (James Cook University), Dr Scott Smithers, Jacqui Wolstenheim, Dr Katharina Fabricius, Russell Kelley Conservation agencies; Margie Atkinson (GBRMPA) DPI&F; Dr Brigid Kerrigan, Dr Malcolm Dunning, Tara Smith, Michelle Winning The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) seeks to maximise the economic potential of Queensland’s primary industries on a sustainable basis. This publication has been compiled by Anthony Roelofs and Rebecca Silcock of the Fisheries Business Group. While every care has been taken in preparing this publication, the State of Queensland accepts no responsibility for decisions or actions taken as a result of any data, information, statement or advice, expressed or implied, contained in this report. © The State of Queensland, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, 2008. Except as permitted by the Copyright Act 1968, no part of the work may in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or any other means be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or be broadcast or transmitted without the prior written permission of DPI&F.
    [Show full text]
  • Dendronephthya Hemprichi
    Coral Reefs (1997) 16:5Ð12 Reports Clonal propagation by the azooxanthellate octocoral Dendronephthya hemprichi M. Dahan1, Y. Benayahu2 1 Department of Environmental Sciences and Energy Research, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel 2 Department of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel Accepted: 2 February 1996 Abstract. The azooxanthellate octocoral Dendronephthya of many bottom-dwelling aquatic invertebrates (e.g., Jack- hemprichi (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea) is the most abun- son 1977, 1985; Hughes 1989). Such individuals are termed dant benthic organism inhabiting the under-water surfa- ramets and a genet consists of all ramets that are derived ces of oil jetties at Eilat (Red Sea); however, it is very rare from the same zygote (e.g., Harper 1977; Coates and on Eilat’s natural reefs. This soft coral exhibits a newly Jackson 1985; Hughes et al. 1992). Asexual reproduction is discovered mode of clonal propagation that results in the clonal proliferation of individuals by separation of autotomy of small-sized fragments (2Ð5 mm in length). ramets, either at the time of ramet formation or by partial They possess specialized root-like processes that enable mortality and/or mechanical fragmentation of previously a rapid attachment onto the substrata. An autotomy event united groups of ramets (Jackson 1985). In most clonal is completed within only 2 days; large colonies can bear invertebrates the potential number of ramets per genet is hundreds of pre-detached fragments. Temporal fluctu- unlimited because modular construction generally elimin- ations in the percentage of fragment-bearing colonies indi- ates surface to volume constraints on overall clonal size cate that autotomy is stimulated by exogenous factors, (e.g., Jackson 1977).
    [Show full text]