A large gape facilitates predation on salps by Heteropsammia corals

Mehrotra, Rahul; Scott, Chad M.; Hoeksema, Bert W.

doi:10.1007/s12526-015-0379-8

Cited by 12 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…In recent years, a growing number of observations have shown how large planktonic fauna such as salps and jellyfish may act as prey for corals [24–28]. These records suggest that gape size in corals directly limits the range of potential prey items [26]. Nearly all of the predatory corals observed so far, appear to be free-living, allowing them to live in various reef zones, including deeper sandy seafloors [29–31].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Free-living corals of the species Heteropsammia cochlea and Pleuractis paumotensis were recently observed to ingest salps and a sea slug at Koh Tao, Gulf of Thailand [5,26]. The 19-km 2 island is surrounded by a fringing coral reef, with many of the locations around the island supporting large populations of free-living mushroom corals [41–43].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The 19-km 2 island is surrounded by a fringing coral reef, with many of the locations around the island supporting large populations of free-living mushroom corals [41–43]. Beyond the reef slope there is a soft-sediment ecosystem that supports mixed aggregations of free-living scleractinian corals such as Heteropsammia cochlea and Heterocyathus aequicostatus [26,31]. This ecosystem has been shown to support a hidden diversity of sea slugs and other fauna that are not present within the shallower reef habitats, with over a third of all species of sea slug recorded from the island exclusively recorded from this ecosystem [44, 45].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Firstly, by use of both in-situ and ex-situ trials, we aim to ascertain the palatability of various sacoglossan species by large-mouthed solitary corals, which will be done by conducting feeding trials and measuring responses to prey items. Secondly, we aim to investigate the role of habitat type on such relationships by utilising both predators and prey from two contrasting ecosystems, namely coral reefs and deeper soft-sediment habitats [5,26,44]. Thirdly, we aim to assess the method and rate by which prey captured by large monostomatous (solitary) mushroom corals are transported from point of capture to the mouth.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Selective consumption of sacoglossan sea slugs (Mollusca: Gastropoda) by scleractinian corals (Cnidaria: Anthozoa)

Mehrotra

Monchanin²,

Scott³

et al. 2019

PLoS ONE

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Recent studies revealed that reef corals can eat large-sized pelagic and benthic animals in addition to small planktonic prey. As follow-up, we document natural ingestion of sea slugs by corals and investigate the role of sacoglossan sea slugs as possible prey items of scleractinian corals. Feeding trials were carried out using six sacoglossan species as prey, two each from the genera Costasiella , Elysia and Plakobranchus , and four free-living solitary corals ( Danafungia scruposa , Fungia fungites , Pleuractis paumotensis and Heteropsammia cochlea ) as predators. Trials were carried out under both in-situ and ex-situ conditions with the aim to observe ingestion and assess signs of prey consumption based on tissue loss of prey individuals over time. Significant differences were observed in both ingestion time and consumption state of prey between prey species, with three of them being ingested more rapidly and preferentially consumed over the others. Additionally, prey size was found to be a significant factor with larger prey (>12 mm) being ingested more slowly and rarely than smaller ones (<6 mm and 6–12 mm). Comparisons of consumption capability among predators showed no significant difference with all coral species showing similar preferences for prey species. While no specific mechanism of prey capture is proposed, we also document instances of kleptoparisitism and resuspension of prey items by wrasses. This study highlights the important distinction between opportunistic prey capture and true predation events.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Selective consumption of sacoglossan sea slugs (Mollusca: Gastropoda) by scleractinian corals (Cnidaria: Anthozoa)

Mehrotra

Monchanin²,

Scott³

et al. 2019

PLoS ONE

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“…), Malaysia (Hoeksema and Waheed ), and Thailand (Mehrotra et al. ). Capture of P. noctiluca by the polystomatous coral Phyllangia mouchezii has been illustrated (Aguilar :30).…”

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confidence: 99%

Protocooperation among small polyps allows the coral Astroides calycularis to prey on large jellyfish

Musco

Fernández

Caroselli

et al. 2018

Ecology

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High‐resolution imaging sheds new light on a multi‐tier symbiotic partnership between a “walking” solitary coral, a sipunculan, and a bivalve from East Africa

Herran

Narayan

Doo

et al. 2022

Ecology and Evolution

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Marine symbioses are integral to the persistence of ecosystem functioning in coral reefs. Solitary corals of the species Heteropsammia cochlea and Heterocyathus aequicostatus have been observed to live in symbiosis with the sipunculan worm Aspidosiphon muelleri muelleri, which inhabits a cavity within the coral, in Zanzibar (Tanzania). The symbiosis of these photosymbiotic corals enables the coral holobiont to move, in fine to coarse unconsolidated substrata, a process termed as “walking.” This allows the coral to escape sediment cover in turbid conditions which is crucial for these light‐dependent species. An additional commensalistic symbiosis of this coral‐worm holobiont is found between the Aspidosiphon worm and the cryptoendolithic bivalve Jousseaumiella sp., which resides within the cavity of the coral skeleton. To understand the morphological alterations caused by these symbioses, interspecific relationships, with respect to the carbonate structures between these three organisms, are documented using high‐resolution imaging techniques (scanning electron microscopy and µCT scanning). Documenting multi‐layered symbioses can shed light on how morphological plasticity interacts with environmental conditions to contribute to species persistence.

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A large gape facilitates predation on salps by Heteropsammia corals

Cited by 12 publications

References 4 publications

Selective consumption of sacoglossan sea slugs (Mollusca: Gastropoda) by scleractinian corals (Cnidaria: Anthozoa)

Selective consumption of sacoglossan sea slugs (Mollusca: Gastropoda) by scleractinian corals (Cnidaria: Anthozoa)

Protocooperation among small polyps allows the coral Astroides calycularis to prey on large jellyfish

High‐resolution imaging sheds new light on a multi‐tier symbiotic partnership between a “walking” solitary coral, a sipunculan, and a bivalve from East Africa

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