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)
It is a genus of marine animals within the class of Anthozoa, alongside corals and sea anemones. Known as “zoanthids” or “zoas” among aquarium enthusiasts.
Zoanthus (Button polyps)
It is a genus of large polyp stony corals (LPS) in the family Mussidae. Characterized by thick, fleshy polyps and typically display a massive, encrusting, or columnar growth form.
Lobophyllia (Lobed coral)
Why are corals vulnerable?
Corals face many threats due to exposure and direct exploitation from local sources such as destruction from coastal development, dredging, quarrying, destructive fishing practices and gear, boat anchors and groundings, and recreational misuse.
Philippine Vulnerable Coral Species
Acropora abrolhosensis
Acropora aculeus
Acropora echinata
Alveopora daedalea
Alveopora marionensis
The term “Mollusca” was derived from the term given by _________ to __________.
Aristotle to cuttlefish
Mollusc means?
Soft
It is known as the second most diverse phylum of animals.
Molluscs/Mollusks
It is a diverse group of invertebrates that include animals such as snails, clams, squids, and octopuses.
Molluscs/Mollusks
They can be found on terrestrial as well as in the deep seas. They are a source of jewelry as well as food.
Molluscs/Mollusks
The _______ molluscs are used as BIOINDICATORS in the marine and freshwater environments. But few of them are pests such as snails and slugs.
Bivalve
It is made of calcium carbonate and provides protection and support.
Shell
Mollusks have soft bodies usually protected by hard outer shells, _________ and bilaterally symmetrical and _________.
Tripoblastic; Coelomate
Mollusks has a cavity and the body is divided into…
Head, visceral mass, muscular foot, and mantle.
It is a thin fleshy layer that covers the visceral mass and secretes the shell in species that have one. Plays a role in respiration and can form structures like gills or lungs.
Mantle
It is a ribbon-like structure with rows of tiny teeth that molluscs use to scrape or grasp food particles from surfaces.
Radula
A muscular structure located at the base of the mollusc’s body. It is used for various purposes such as crawling, burrowing, or anchoring.
Foot
It is used for capturing prey, manipulating objects, and sensing environment. It can be equipped with suckers or hooks for grasping. Squids and octopuses.
Tentacles
It comprises of head and compund eyes. It helps molluscs detect light, chemicals, and other stimuli un their surroundings.
Head
Group of small, deep water, marine molluscs known for their lack of shells (“bearing no plates”) and worm-like body appearance. They possess a symmetrical cylindrical body shape.
Aplacophora
Aplacophora is divided into two groups:
Caudofoveata (Chaetodermomorpha)
Solenogastres (Neomeniomorpha)
There are only ______ recorded species of Aplacophora.
320
“bearing one plate”
It is a polyphyletic superclass of mollusks characterized by their limpet-like appearance and the presence of a single, cap-shaped shell bilateral symmetry.
Monoplacophora
Around _______ species belong to Monoplacophora class.
2 dozen
“bearing many plates”
They are marine primitive mollusks, commonly known as “Chitons” that bear an armor-like, eight-plated dorsal shell.
Polyplacophora
There are over ____ species known in Polyplacophora class.
600
“Pelecypoda”
They are freshwater mollusks that have laterally compressed bodies enclosed by a shell in two hinged parts.
Bivalvia
Obtain food by filtering particles fron the water using specialized structures called gills.
Filter feeders
“stomach foot”
A large group of mollusks that has a muscular foot, eyes, tentacles and a special rasp-like feeding organ called the radula, which is composed of many tiny teeth. Slugs, snails, conchs, sea hares, and sea butterflies.
Gastropoda
Over ________ to ________ species of Gastropoda are known.
40,000 to 100,000
“head foot”
The most morphologically and behaviorally complex group in Mollusca. They are carnivorous predators and have beak-like jaws at the anterior end. They possess a highly evolved nervous system alongside eyes, in addition to a closed circulatory system.
Cephalopoda
Cephalopods propel themselves using a method called _________ _________, where they expel a stream of water to move
Jet propulsion
Squids and octopuses produce _____ or a dark ink as a defense mechanism.
Sepia
Factors that cause vulnerabilities of Mollusks
Climate change
Pollution
