Laboratory experiments were designed to estimate the ingestion rates of the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata under varying prey concentrations and feeding regimes and to assess the effect of feeding on the tissue and skeletal growth. Six sets of corals were incubated under two light (80 and 300 µmol photons m−2 s−1) and three feeding levels (none, fed twice, and fed six times per week) using freshly collected zooplankton. Results showed that the number of prey ingested was proportional to prey density, and no saturation of feeding capability was reached. Capture rates varied between 0.5 and 8 prey items 200 polyp−1 h−1. Corals starved for several days ingested more plankton than did fed corals. Fed colonies exhibited significantly higher levels of protein, chlorophyll a, and chlorophyll c
 2
 per unit surface area than starved colonies. Feeding had a strong effect on tissue growth, increasing it by two to eight times. Calcification rates were also 30% higher in fed than in starved corals. Even moderate levels of feeding enhanced both tissue and skeletal growth, although the processes involved in this enhancement remain to be determined.

Effect of natural zooplankton feeding on the tissue and skeletal growth of the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata

Effect of zooplankton availability on the rates of photosynthesis, and tissue and skeletal growth in the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata

Millepores are colonial polypoidal hydrozoans secreting an internal calcareous skeleton of an encrusting or upright form, often of considerable size. Defensive polyps protruding from the skeleton are numerous and highly toxic and for this reason millepores are popularly known as “stinging corals” or “fire corals.” In shallow tropical seas millepore colonies are conspicuous on coral reefs and may be locally abundant and important reef‐framework builders. The history of systematic research on the Milleporidae and the sister family Stylasteridae is rich and full with the works of early naturalists beginning with Linnaeus. Seventeen living millepore species are recognised. Marked phenotypic variation in form and structure of colonies is characteristic of the genus Millepora. The first published descriptions of the anatomy and histology of millepores were by H. N. Moseley in one of the Challenger Expedition reports. These original, detailed accounts by Moseley remain valid and, except for recent descriptions of the ultrastructure of the skeleton and skeletogenic tissues, have not needed much modification. Millepores occur worldwide on coral reefs at depths of between 1 and 40 m and their distribution on reefs is generally zoned in response to physical factors. Colonies may be abundant locally on coral reefs but usually comprise Reproduction in millepores is characterised by alternation of generations with a well‐developed polypoid stage that buds off planktonic medusae. Sexual reproduction is seasonal for known species and the medusae have a brief planktonic life. Asexual production is achieved by sympodial growth, the production of new skeleton and soft tissue along a growing edge or branch tip, and by the reattachment, regeneration and repair of damaged or broken colony fragments. The physiological and ecological responses of species of millepores are similar to those of the species of scleractinian corals over a broad range of natural and anthropogenic disturbances. Severe damage to colonies may occur during major storms. Delicately branching species are more susceptible than massive and bladed species. The ability of broken fragments to regenerate can ameliorate the extent of damage. Widespread bleaching and mortality of millepores has been reported during mass bleaching events that have affected many coral reefs. Millepores are often the first to recover after short‐term bleaching events. Harmful effects of oil spills, chronic oil pollution and oil‐spill detergents have been widely reported for millepores. Although the hydrozoan coenosarc, with its fiercely stinging zooids, does not appear to be an attractive substratum for attachment and settlement of epizooans, a number of sessile and errant forms commonly occur on millepores. These include barnacles, amphipods, tanaid and alpheid crustaceans, polychaetes and gastropods. Burrowing molluscs, polychaetes and crustacea also abound. Many of these species or their close relatives also occur on scleractinian corals. A variety of predators, grazers and fouling organisms occur on millepores. These include errant polychaetes, several coral‐feeding fish and a gastropod mollusc. Various invasive green, red and brown algae are widespread, growing on dead branches of millepores and overgrowing live coral tissue. Various “band diseases” associated with microorganisms that appear to cause lesions on millepores and loss of tissue have been documented but are not of widespread occurrence. Infestations of endolithic algae and fungi growing within the skeletons have been reported in a number of millepore species.

Biology and ecology of the hydrocoral millepora on coral reefs.

This study investigated the ability of 3 coral species — zooxanthellate (Stylophora pistil- lata and Galaxea fascicularis) and azooxanthellate (Tubastrea aurea )— to feed on pico- and nano- plankton (particles < 100 µm). Coral nubbins were incubated for 6 h in flow chambers containing the planktonic particles (experimental chambers). Control chambers were also set up to follow the nat- ural changes in the planktonic community. Changes in the concentrations of dissolved organic car- bon (DOC), bacteria, cyanobacteria and flagellates were monitored during the incubation. Results showed that ingestion rates were proportional to prey concentrations. In terms of number of prey ingested per polyp, bacteria were the first group ingested. When converted into carbon and nitrogen, nanoflagellates represented the most important contribution, amounting to 84-94% of the total car- bon and 52-85% of the total nitrogen ingested. Bacteria, cyanobacteria and picoflagellates accounted only for 1-7% of the ingested carbon. At the end of the incubation, DOC concentrations increased in the chambers containing T. aurea and G. fascicularis. However, in all chambers con- taining S. pistillata, DOC concentrations decreased (from 101.69 ± 13.53 to 93.59 ± 4.67 µmol DOC l -1 ) equal to a rate of 0.251 ± 0.217 nmol DOC polyp -1 h -1 . In symbiotic species, pico- and nanoplankton accounted for only 6.6-7.8% of the carbon supplied by photosynthesis but were a major supply of nitrogen. In S. pistillata, the amount of nitrogen supplied by pico- and nanoplankton ingestion (1.2 ng N polyp -1 h -1 ) was as high as the amount supplied by the dissolved nitrogen uptake (1.55 ng N polyp -1 h -1 ). Pico- and nanoplankton may, therefore, constitute an important food source for these

/pdf/importance-of-a-micro-diet-for-scleractinian-corals-15a7mbs10a.pdf

Importance of a micro-diet for scleractinian corals

Phosphorus (P), an essential structural and functional component of all living organisms, is considered to be the ultimate limiting nutrient in marine ecosystems To optimize its acquisition, marine species such as protozoa, sponges, foraminifera, clams, and reef corals, among others, have entered symbiotic relationships with algae, which recycle waste products of the animal host and transform dissolved inorganic nutrients into organic molecules, making them bioavailable to their host Such associations provide a competitive edge in an environment where ambient nutrient availability is low The aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on the P sources available to reef organisms with algal symbionts, to discuss the means by which P is taken up and stored within the symbiosis, and to assess the effects of eutrophication-induced phosphate enrichment on the algal and host physiology Finally, we give an overview of knowledge gaps and open questions that should be addressed to better understand the role of phosphorus in reef symbioses functioning

Phosphorus metabolism of reef organisms with algal symbionts

Heterotrophy is examined in the hydrocoral Millepora complanata Lamarck and compared with scleractinian corals. Natural zooplankton catch rates and digestion rates were determined from counts of prey items captured by the gastrozooids on surfaces of millepore colonies collected in the field. The mean catch rate or feeding rate (+ SD) was 7.1 ? 4.10 prey items cm-2 surface d' and complete digestion of prey required about 24 h. Copepods comprised the bulk (63 %) of the diet. Based on the argument that measured catch rates of corals are highly variable because of plankton patchiness, and the assumption that millepore colonies with expanded zooids feed both day and night, a potential feeding or catch rate was derived from the mean number of gastrozooids on the colonies times the digestion rate. Daily food consumption estimated from the potential catch rates exceeded estimates of daily energy needed for respiration by a factor of 6.7. It was concluded that heterotrophic feeding in M. complanata can potentially supply more than the daily energy requirements of the hydrocoral and may exceed feeding rates of scleractinian corals.

/pdf/heterotrophy-in-corals-zooplankton-predation-by-the-1m6bhboiqv.pdf

Heterotrophy in corals: zooplankton predation by the hydrocoral Millepora complanata

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Heterotrophy in corals: zooplankton predation by the hydrocoral Millepora complanata