Protocooperation among small polyps allows the coral <i>Astroides calycularis</i> to prey on large jellyfish

Musco, Luigi; Fernández, Tomás Vega; Caroselli, Erik; Roberts, J. Murray; Badalamenti, Fabio

doi:10.1002/ecy.2413

Cited by 9 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…It has been proposed by Porter (1976) and Sebens (1979) that an increase in size of the capture surface area of polyps could be positively related to the amount of prey captured (Lasker 1981; Lewis 1982), as has also been suggested for scleractinian corals (Todd et al 2004; Todd 2008). On the other hand, a large polyp size in scleractinians has been observed to be beneficial for the capture and consumption of large prey items (Alamura et al 2009; Hoeksema and Waheed 2012; Mehrotra et al 2014, 2016, 2019; Musco et al 2018). A study on octocorals by Lasker (1981) showed that there were differences in the number of nematocysts, bigger polyps having relatively less nematocysts, which could influence prey capture.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A first phylogenetic study on stoloniferous octocorals off the coast of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, with the description of two new genera and five new species

Lau¹,

Reimer²

2019

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Sabah, Malaysia, is well known for its extensive and diverse coral reefs. It is located on the northwestern edge of the Coral Triangle, the region with the highest marine biodiversity. Much of the marine fauna here is still unknown, especially inconspicuous animals, such as small stoloniferous octocorals, which are common on coral reefs. Here, we describe two new monospecific genera of the family Arulidae found off the coast of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, East Malaysia; Bunga payunggen. nov. et sp. nov. and Laeta waheedaegen. nov. et sp. nov. As well, the stoloniferan genus Phenganax Alderslade & McFadden, 2011 belonging to the family Clavulariidae is expanded with three new species, P. marumisp. nov., P. subtilissp. nov., and P. stokvisisp. nov., which are all sclerite-free. Additionally, we report a possibly undescribed species, closely related to the clavulariid genera Azoriella Lopez-Gonzalez & Gili, 2001 and Cervera Lopez-Gonzalez et al., 1995. As this and other recent studies have shown, discoveries of small stoloniferous octocorals are helping to fill gaps in our knowledge of the overall systematics of Octocorallia.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A first phylogenetic study on stoloniferous octocorals off the coast of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, with the description of two new genera and five new species

Lau¹,

Reimer²

2019

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“…Based on the previous information [5,12,24–27], it is clear that the role of large-mouthed corals as consumers, or at least as opportunistic predators, does not follow conventional understanding and requires further investigation. Moreover, with even fewer records existing of sacoglossan sea slugs as prey species, confirmed records of scleractinian coral consumption of sea slug taxa would place a previously unknown ecological role upon sea slugs in the food cycle of coral reef ecosystems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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“…Thus, the possible advantage of having many (relatively) small polyps, in a colonial azooxanthellate species such as A. calycularis remains elusive 42 . However, recent evidence suggests that A. calycularis preys on large gelatinous plankton using a protocooperative strategy involving polyps of several colonies 50 . This is the first coral species in which such an unusual cooperative behaviour is observed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is the first coral species in which such an unusual cooperative behaviour is observed. The ability to cooperate among colonies may be the evolutionary driver for this species to form aggregations resulting in bioconstructions 50 . Consequently, densely aggregated colonies of this coral should be more effective in preying on large gelatinous plankton.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The latter area includes Malta and the Italian coast from Ventotene Island in the north to Lampedusa Island in the south 16,32,53,54 . Studies on the biology and ecology of A. calycularis have been performed mostly on populations of southern Spain and southwestern Italy, including Sicily and the Egadi Islands 36,44–46,50,52,54–57 . The coast of northwestern Sicily and of the Egadi Archipelago is located at an intermediate latitude within the species’ range, where it is expected to find optimal environmental conditions, based on the assumption that at the center of its geographical range, a species is generally favored and tends to show the highest population density 58 (and references therein).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Anthropogenic impact is negatively related to coral health in Sicily (Mediterranean Sea)

Prada

Musco

Alagna

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

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Shallow-water marine organisms are among the first to suffer from combined effects of natural and anthropogenic drivers. The orange coral Astroides calycularis is a shallow-water bioconstructor species endemic to the Mediterranean Sea. Although raising conservation interest, also given its special position within the Dendrophylliidae, information about the threats to its health is scant. We investigated the health status of A. calycularis at five locations in northwestern Sicily along a gradient of cumulative human impact and the most probable origin of the threats to this species, including anthropogenic land-based and sea-based threats. Cumulative human impact appeared inversely related to the performance of A. calycularis at population, colony, and polyp levels. Sea-based human impacts appeared among the most likely causes of the variation observed. The reduction in polyp length can limit the reproductive performance of A. calycularis, while the decrease of percent cover and colony area is expected to impair its peculiar feeding behaviour by limiting the exploitable dimensional range of prey and, ultimately, reef functioning. This endangered habitat-forming species appeared susceptible to anthropogenic pressures, suggesting the need to re-assess its vulnerability status. Creating microprotected areas with specific restrictions to sea-based human impacts could be the best practice preserve these bioconstructions.

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

Cited by 9 publications

References 13 publications

A first phylogenetic study on stoloniferous octocorals off the coast of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, with the description of two new genera and five new species

A first phylogenetic study on stoloniferous octocorals off the coast of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, with the description of two new genera and five new species

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

Anthropogenic impact is negatively related to coral health in Sicily (Mediterranean Sea)

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