Corals and Mollusks Flashcards
Are colonial marine invertebrates within the class Anthozoa of the phylum Cnidaria. They typically form compact colonies of many identical individual polyps.
Corals
These species include the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton.
Coral species
Corals are composed of _________ which are cylindrical, sac-like structures with a central mouth surrounded by tentacles.
Polyps
They typically have radial symmetry, with tentacles arranged around the mouth in multiples of six or eight.
Polyps
The body of a polyp is composed of two cell layers which are the _________ and __________, separated by a jelly-like mesoglea.
Outer epidermis and inner gastrodermis
Many corals secrete a hard, ___________ ___________ skeleton beneath their soft tissues.
Calcium carbonate
This provides a structural support for the colony and protects the polyps from predation and physical damage.
Skeleton
The skeletal structure can vary in morphology, from ____________ and __________ to __________ and ___________ structures.
Branching and plate-like forms to encrusting and massive structures
Corals can form colonies of various shapes and sizes including:
Branching
Encrusting
Massive
Foliose (leaf-like)
Mushroom-shaped
It influences the growth, form, habitat preference, and ecological interactions of corals within reef ecosystems.
Colony morphology
Corals exhibit a wide range of colors including:
Shades of brown, green, blue, purple, pink, and fluorescent hues.
It is influenced by the presence of pigments produced by the coral host, as well as symbiotic algae call ZOOXANTHELLAE, which reside within the coral’s tissues.
Coloration
It involves the release of eggs and sperm into the water for EXTERNAL FERTILIZATION, resulting in the formation of larvae that settle and develop into new colonies.
Sexual reproduction
It occurs through BUDDING, FRAGMENTATION, or the FORMATION OF SPECIALIZED REPRODUCTIVE STRUCTURES such as gonads or polyp clusters.
Asexual reproduction
It is a genus polyp stony corals (SPS) recognized for intricate and branching coral structures. These are essential for coral reef ecosystems, significantly contributing to structural intricate and branching coral structures.
Acropora (Staghorn coral)
It is a genus of stony corals recognized for massive, dome-shaped, or branching colonies. They are resilient to environmental stressors like temperature fluctuations and pollution.
Porites (Brain coral)
It is a genus of stony corals in the family Faviidae, known as moon corals. They usually inhabit shallow waters. They are characterized by dome-shaped or boulder-like colonies, they often feature polyps arranged in distinct valleys or ridges on the coral surface.
Favia (Moon coral)
It is a genus of small polyp stony corals (SPS) prevalent in reef ecosystems globally. They exhibit encrusting, plating, or branching growth forms and showcase vibrant colors like green, pink, purple, and blue. Popular among reef aquarium enthusiasts for their rapid growth rates and beautiful appearance.
Montipora (Plating coral)
It is a genus of small, branching stony corals in the family Pocilloporidae. They are vital reef builders, providing habitat and food for a diverse range of marine organisms.
Pocillopora (Brush coral)
It is a genus of stony coral in the family Poritidae, often called flowerpot corals for their resemblance to ornamental flowerpots. Characterized by polyps with long, delicate tentacles that extend at night for feeding on plankton.
Goniopora (Flowerpot coral)
It is a genus of large polyp stony corals (LPS) in the family Euphylliidae. Highly sought after in the aquarium trade for vibrant colors, unique tentacle formation, and hardiness. They anchor themselves using a calcified skeleton.
Euphyllia (Torch coral)
It is a genus of soft corals in the family Alcyoniidae, often termed “leather corals” for their texture and appearance. Characterized by fleshy, lobed, or finger-like structures, ranging in color from pale cream to brown or green.
Sarcophyton (Leather coral)