Porites astreoides
| Porites astreoides | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Class: | Hexacorallia |
| Order: | Scleractinia |
| Family: | Poritidae |
| Genus: | Porites |
| Species: | P. astreoides
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| Binomial name | |
| Porites astreoides Lamarck, 1816[2] | |
| Synonyms | |
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Porites astreoides, commonly known as mustard hill coral or yellow porites, is a
.It is a common species in the Caribbean Sea and western tropical Atlantic Ocean in North, Central, and South America; and the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean in western Africa.[1]
Description
When it grows in fast-flowing, shallow water, Porites astreoides is encrusting but in calmer water at medium depths it is a massive coral with a smooth, mounded, semi-spherical form and can grow to 60 centimetres (24 in) in diameter. At greater depths it is usually plate-like
Distribution and habitat
Porites astreoides is found growing in shallow water on reefs in the Caribbean Sea and in the western-central and southwestern Atlantic Ocean in the Caribbean region and tropical North America, Central America, and South America; and the eastern-central Atlantic Ocean in tropical western Africa.[7] It is a common species on all parts of a reef and in lagoons.
It usually grows in water less than 15 metres (49 ft) deep[5] but may occasionally be found at depths of up to 50 metres (160 ft). It is sometimes free-living, growing on loose bits of coral, pebbles or mollusc shells. Large domed colonies sometimes appear to be separated into several lobes. This happens when part of the coral has died, and the living tissue in between the dead patches continues to develop, giving a clumped effect.[4]
Biology
The polyps of Porites astreoides feed mostly at night, extending their tentacles to catch zooplankton and bacteria. The coral also obtains an important part of its nutritional needs as a result of the photosynthesis performed by the zooxanthellae in sunlight.[5]
Some colonies of Porites astreoides are female while others are hermaphroditic. Sexual reproduction occurs with male gametes being released into the sea around the time of the new moon. The sperm gets drawn into other polyps where fertilization takes place. The larvae are initially brooded but are liberated into the sea at about the time of the full moon. The planula larvae then drift with the currents for some time before settling onto the seabed and metamorphosing into new polyps. Each of these grows into a new colony by secreting a calcareous skeleton and budding. This is initially extratentacular budding, taking place at the side of the polyp, but at a later stage in the development of the colony, the budding is intratentacular, taking place within the ring of tentacles.[4]
Ecology
Porites astreoides often has the sponge
The
References
- ^ . Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ van der Land, Jacob (2013). "Porites astreoides Lamarck, 1816". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2013-04-05.
- ^ "Coralpedia - Your guidie to Caribbean corals and sponges". University of Warwick. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
- ^ ISBN 0-86622-875-6.
- ^ a b c d Rowland, Ashley. "Mustard Hill Coral (Porites astreoides)". Marine Invertebrates of Bermuda. Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences. Retrieved 2013-04-05.
- ^ "Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides)". Interactive Guide to Caribbean Diving. Marine Species Identification Portal. Retrieved 2013-04-05.
- ^ a b IUCN Red List ver 3.1: Porites astreoides, Least Concern species (2008) . accessed 2017-06-27.