Improvement of photosynthesis in zooxanthellate corals by autofluorescent chromatophores

Autofluorescent chromatophores were detected in 17 out of 71 zooxanthellate coral species studied. Chromatophores are localized either in the oral gastrodermic (endoderm) or oral epidermis (ectoderm). The pigment granules within the chromatophores (0.5–1.0 m in diameter) show a brilliant light-blue/turquoise autofluorescence (emission between 430 and 500 nm) after excitation with light of 365–410 nm. All species where the autofluorescent gastrodermal chromatophores form a compact layer, embedding the zooxanthellae, belong to the family Agariciidae. In contrast, some species of the Faviidae (2), Pectiniidae (1) and Mussidae (1) were found to have distinct, autofluorescent chromatophores in the oral epidermis. Autofluorescent pigments of the host may enhance photosynthesis of the symbionts as in Leptoseris fragilis. Short wavelength irradiance, less suitable for photosynthesis, is transformed by host pigments into longer wavelengths which are photosynthetically more effective. Thus, host species possessing autofluorescent chromatophores might have selective advantage over non-fluorescent species, and have the potential to survive in light-limited habitats. Furthermore, the daily period of photosynthesis is extended, thus increasing the energy supply and enhancing the deposition of skeletal carbonate. The absence or presence of chromatophores may have value in taxonomy and could putatively be of plalaeontological and palaeoecological interest.     

Locomotion,asexual reproduction,and killing of corals by the corallimorpharian Corynactis californica

The rates at which some sedentary coelenterates move across substrates, spread by asexual reproduction, and competitively damage their neighbors may greatly affect their ability to survive on hard marine substrates. However, almost nothing is known about these processes in the Corallimorpharia. In this study, locomotory rates varied widely between members of a single clone of the corallimorpharian Corynactis californica. Polyp movement rates (0–14 mm month^–1) were slower than those of many Actiniaria, possibly due to the lack of basilar muscles in corallimorpharians. Rates of asexual reproduction by C. californica polyps in the laboratory varied 10-fold among 8 clones. The minimal time to double the number of polyps per clone (2 months) was intermediate to doubling times known for Actiniaria and Scleractinia. The rate at which polyps killed individuals of the scleractinian Astrangia lajollaensis also varied widely within and between clones. Asexual reproductive rate correlated positively with coral killing rate.     

Short-term progressive early diagenesis in density bands of recent corals:Porites Colonies,Mauritius Island,Indian Ocean

Summary The growth history of some recentPorites colonies of Mauritius Island (Indian Ocean) was dated by sclerochronological methods. Couples of high-density and low-density bands represent the annual growth rate of the corals and allow the growth pattern of every year in the corallum to be counted. The growth and structure of the skeletons ofPorites solida andPorites lutea were investigated. Older parts of the aragonitic skeleton in these 10 to 20 year old corals show various secondary microstructures resulting from alterations and thickenings of the elements of the skeleton. The primary needle-like aragonite crystals are absent in older parts of the corallum and blocky aragonitic cements can occur. Pores and primary skeletal elements are overgrown by new microstructures. These microstructures are caused by secondary cementation and exhibit frontal zones (Stirnzonen), zigzag-like and pseudolamellar-structures. The lamellar structures can be compared with similar structures in the exoskeleton of some Rugosa. A very short early diagenesis within the recent corals is responsible for the thickening and alteration of skeletal elements. It occurs only 4 to 5 years after the formation of the skeleton and tends to increase in importance in older parts of the corallum. Nevertheless, there is no proof for any alteration of aragonite to calcite.     

Spawning of hermatypic corals in Bermuda: a pilot study

This study investigates spawning of 4 hermatypic coral species from the subtropical environment of Bermuda. Laboratory evidence of spawning behaviour is supported by synchronous field observations. Development of scleractinian planulae to postlarval stages is recorded. Diploria strigosa, D. labyrinthiformis, Montastrea annularis and M. cavernosa shed highly buoyant, pigmented eggs (300–440 µm diam.) during July to September 1986. Brief spawning periods, synchronous between conspecific colonies, were recorded for M. annularis (July and August) and M. cavernosa (August) within 1 d of the last quarter of the lunar cycle. In August, there were overlaps amongst the spawning dates of D. strigosa and the Montastrea species. Nocturnal spawning periods differed between M. annularis and M. cavernosa. This constitutes the first evidence from an Atlantic community of overlapping spawning dates amongst several faviid species, and of the accumulation of scleractinian eggs and planulae in surface slicks.     

Reproductive ecology of Naididae (Oligochaeta)

Asexual reproduction is employed by species of Naididae during favorable environmental conditions. In species characteristic of aquatic habitats subject to rapid fluctuations in water levels and temperatures most individuals in a population become sexually mature, and there is degeneration of the alimentary tract, a shortened breeding season, and aclitellar formation of cocoons. Cocoon deposition allows a population to survive periods of environmental stress. Sexual reproduction predominates near the edges of ranges where stress conditions are more prevalent. Species that reproduce sexually in spring are intolerant of summer conditions, while those that breed in autumn are intolerant of winter. Species typical of environmentally stable bodies of water usually have a minority of the population mature at any time, an extended breeding season, and the ability to continue feeding while mature; thus, adaptations for survival in unstable habitats are lacking.     

Upper Permian coral reef and colonial rugose corals in northwest Hunan, South China

Summary The roles of Permian colonial corals in forming organic reefs have not been adequately assessed, although they are common fossils in the Permian strata. It is now known that colonial corals were important contributors to reef framework during the middle and late Permian such as those in South China, northeast Japan, Oman and Thailand. A coral reef occurs in Kanjia-ping, Cili County, Hunan, South China. It is formed by erect and unscathed colonies ofWaagenophyllum growing on top of one anotherin situ to form a baffle and framework. Paleontological data of the Cili coral reef indicates a middle to late Changhsing age (Late Permian), corresponding to thePalaeofusulina zone. The coral reef exposure extends along the inner platform margin striking in E-S direction for nearly 4 km laterally and generally 35 to 57 m thick. The Cili coral reef exhibits a lateral differentiation into three main reef facies; reef core facies, fore-reef facies, and marginal slope facies. The major reef-core facies is well exposed in Shenxian-wan and Guanyin-an sections where it rests on the marginal slope facies. Colonial corals are dispersed and preserved in non-living position easward. Sponges become major stabilizing organisms in the eastern part of Changhsing limestone outcrop in Kanjia-ping, but no read sponge reefs were formed. Coral reefs at Cili County in Human are different distinctly from calcisponge reefs in South China in their palaeogeography, lithofacies development, organic constitutuents, palaeoecology and diagenesis. The Cili coral reef also shows differences in age, depositional facies association, reef organisms and diagenesis from coral reefs in South Kitakami of Japan, Khorat Plateau of Thailand, and Saih Hatat of Oman. Although some sponge reefs and mounds can reach up to the unconformable Permian/Triassic boundary, coral reef at Kanjia-ping, Cili County, is the latest Permian reef known. This reef appears to had been formed in a palaeoenvironment that is different from that of the sponge reefs and provides an example of new and unique Permian reef type in South China, and could help us to: 1) understand the significance of colonial corals in Permian carbonate buildups; 2) evaluate the importance of coral community evolution prior to the collapse of reef ecosystems at the Permian/Triassic boundary; 3) better understand the effects of the biotic extinction events in Palaeotethys realm; 4) look for environmental factors that may have controlled reefs through time and space, and 5) provide valuable data for the study of Permian palaeoclimate and global evolutionary changes of Permian reefs and reef community.     

Visual ecology of flies with particular reference to colour vision and colour preferences

The visual ecology of flies is outstanding among insects due to a combination of specific attributes. Flies’ compound eyes possess an open rhabdom and thus separate rhabdomeres in each ommatidium assigned to two visual pathways. The highly sensitive, monovariant neural superposition system is based on the excitation of the peripheral rhabdomeres of the retinula cells R1–6 and controls optomotor reactions. The two forms of central rhabdomeres of R7/8 retinula cells in each ommatidium build up a system with four photoreceptors sensitive in different wavelength ranges and thought to account for colour vision. Evidence from wavelength discrimination tests suggests that all colour stimuli are assigned to one of just four colour categories, but cooperation of the two pathways is also evident. Flies use colour cues for various behavioural reactions such as flower visitation, proboscis extension, host finding, and egg deposition. Direct evidence for colour vision, the ability to discriminate colours according to spectral shape but independent of intensity, has been demonstrated for few fly species only. Indirect evidence for colour vision provided from electrophysiological recordings of the spectral sensitivity of photoreceptors and opsin genes indicates similar requisites in various flies; the flies’ responses to coloured targets, however, are much more diverse.     

In situ nurseries enhance coral transplant growth in sedimented waters

In situ nurseries have been a crucial part of coral reef restoration initiatives for the past two decades. However, the advantages over direct transplantation in sedimented waters has yet to be examined. In the present study, we showed that Pachyseris speciosa and Pocillopora damicornis fragments reared in in situ nurseries (NR) in Singapore’s sedimented waters grew significantly faster (by three to five times) than those which were directly transplanted (DT) onto the substrates. The increased growth rate during the nursery phase augmented the size of NR transplants, and had a flow-on effect on their performance during the post-transplantation phase. Overall, the maximum diameter of the NR transplants was 1.8–2.7 times larger than DT transplants after 11 months. The growth enhancement of the nursery-reared transplants improved the cost-effectiveness of our restoration effort: the estimated cost per centimetre growth of NR transplants was one-fifth of the DT corals despite the additional costs incurred to construct the nurseries. These results highlight that coral nurseries are beneficial to reef restoration in chronically sedimented waters.     

Ascomycetes associated with ectomycorrhizas: molecular diversity and ecology with particular reference to the Helotiales

Mycorrhizosphere microbes enhance functioning of the plant–soil interface, but little is known of their ecology. This study aims to characterize the ascomycete communities associated with ectomycorrhizas in two Tasmanian wet sclerophyll forests. We hypothesize that both the phyto‐ and mycobiont, mantle type, soil microbiotope and geographical distance affect the diversity and occurrence of the associated ascomycetes. Using the culture‐independent rDNA sequence analysis, we demonstrate a high diversity of these fungi on different hosts and habitats. Plant host has the strongest effect on the occurrence of the dominant species and community composition of ectomycorrhiza‐associated fungi. Root endophytes, soil saprobes, myco‐, phyto‐ and entomopathogens contribute to the ectomycorrhiza‐associated ascomycete community. Taxonomically these Ascomycota mostly belong to the orders Helotiales, Hypocreales, Chaetothyriales and Sordariales. Members of Helotiales from both Tasmania and the Northern Hemisphere are phylogenetically closely related to root endophytes and ericoid mycorrhizal fungi, suggesting their strong ecological and evolutionary links. Ectomycorrhizal mycobionts from Australia and the Northern Hemisphere are taxonomically unrelated to each other and phylogenetically distant to other helotialean root‐associated fungi, indicating independent evolution. The ubiquity and diversity of the secondary root‐associated fungi should be considered in studies of mycorrhizal communities to avoid overestimating the richness of true symbionts.     

Copepoda associated with the coral Gardineroseris planulata (Dana) on the Great Barrier Reef,northeastern Australia

Three new lichomolgid copepods associated with the scleractinian Gardineroseris planulata (Dana) are described: Sociellus torus, n. gen., n. sp., characterized by a 2-segmented endopod in leg 3 and the lack of an inner seta on the first segment of the endopod in legs 1–3; Odontomolgus pumilus, n. sp., of very small size and having a much elongated free segment in leg 5 of the female; and Paramolgus ampullaceus, n. sp., distinguished by the bottle-shaped genital segment of the female. In addition, the harpacticoid Alteuthellopsis corallina Humes, 1981, is reported from this coral. With the inclusion of 3 species of the poecilostomatoid genus Xarifia already described (Humes, 1985) there are now 7 species of copepods known to be associated with Gardineroseris planulata on the Great Barrier Reef.     

Population structure is not a simple function of reproductive mode and larval type: insights from tropical corals

1. For a wide range of organisms, heritable variation in life-history characteristics has been shown to be strongly subject to selection, reflecting the impact that variation in characters such as genotypic diversity, duration of larval development and adaptations for dispersal can have on the fitness of offspring and the make-up of populations. Indeed, variation in life-history characteristics, especially reproduction and larval type, have often been used to predict patterns of dispersal and resultant population structures in marine invertebrates. 2. Scleractinian corals are excellent models with which to test this relationship, as they exhibit almost every possible combination of reproductive mode and larval type. Some general patterns are emerging but, contrary to expectations, genetic data suggest that while populations of broadcast spawning species may be genotypically diverse they may be heavily reliant on localized recruitment rather than widespread dispersal of larvae. 3. Here we use microsatellites to test the importance of localized recruitment by comparing the genetic structure of populations of two broadcast spawning corals with contrasting modes of reproduction and larval development; Goniastrea favulus is self-compatible, has sticky, negatively buoyant eggs and larvae and is expected to have restricted dispersal of gametes and larvae. In contrast, Platygyra daedalea is self-incompatibile, spawns positively buoyant egg-sperm bundles and has planktonic development. 4. Surprisingly, spatial-autocorrelation revealed no fine-scale clustering of similar genotypes within sites for G. favulus, but showed a non-random distribution of genotypes in P. daedalea. Both species showed similar levels of genetic subdivision among sites separated by 50-100 m (F(ST) = 0.03), suggesting that larval dispersal may be equivalent in both species. 5. Interestingly, as fragmentation has been considered rare in massive corals, our sample of 284 P. daedalea colonies included 28 replicated genotypes that were each unlikely (P < 0.05) to have been derived independently from sexual reproduction. 6. We conclude that the extreme life history of G. favulus does not produce unusually fine-scale genetic structure and subsequently, that reproductive mode and larval type may not be not good predictors of population structure or dispersal ability.     

Intra-and interspecific variability of fatty acid composition of soft corals

The intra-and interspecific variability of fatty acid (FA) composition of soft corals was examined in the tropical alcyonarian Sarcophyton sp., tropical gorgonian Euplexaura erecta, and boreal alcyonarian Gersemia rubiformis. Characteristic significant differences in the FA composition were found between these species belonging to different taxonomic groups and habitats. We assume that the FA groups 14: 0 + 16: 0 + 18: 3n-6, 16: 2 + 20: 4n-6 + 24: 5n-6, and 18: 1n-7 + 20: 1n-7 + 20: 5n-3 + 24: 6n-3 are characteristic of Sarcophyton sp., E. erecta, and G. rubiformis respectively. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the three soft coral species in the content of oleic, linoleic, and docosahexaenoic acids. The relative content of more than 45% of individual FA did not significantly differ (p > 0.05) between the pairs of species, i.e., intraspecific variations exceeded interspecific ones. The reasons for intraspecific variability of soft coral FA composition are discussed. Control of this variability is needed when using individual FA as chemotaxonomic and food markers.     

Sandstone rockhouses of the eastern United States,with particular reference to the ecology and evolution of the endemic plant taxa

Rockhouses are semicircular recesses extending far back under cliff overhangs that are large enough to provide shelter for humans. The largest sandstone rockhouses in the eastern United States are at the heads of gorges, and they are in stream valleys cut during the Pleistocene; most are formed in Mississippian and Pennsylvanian-age rocks. Compared to the surrounding environment, the interior of rockhouses is shaded, is warmer during winter and cooler during summer, and has lower evaporation rates and higher humidities. Water enters rockhouses primarily by groundwater seepage and by dripping from the ceiling. Soil consists mostly of sand with low pH, but high levels of some nutrients are associated with saltpeter earth and with ecofactual and artifactual remains left by human occupants during prehistoric time. Most plant taxa in sandstone rockhouses in eastern United States are native C₃ phanerophytes or hemicryptophytes, and similarities in species composition among rockhouses are low. Eleven plant taxa belonging to eight families of flowering plants and ferns are endemic or nearly endemic to sandstone rockhouses in eastern United States. Three endemics are restricted to the gorges of a single river, and only one taxon ranges far north of the Wisconsinan Glacial Boundary. The endemic ferns are Tertiary relicts derived from tropical taxa. The majority of endemic flowering plants are derived from temperate taxa that grow in habitats in the vicinity of rockhouses; their relative age ranges from Late Tertiary to the Recent. All the endemic taxa are perennial; two ferns occur as independent gametophytes. The endemic taxa of rockhouses are threatened primarily by disturbances associated with recreation.     

Contribution to the scleractinian corals of Hanifa Formation,Upper Jurassic,Jabal Al-Abakkayn,central Saudi Arabia

Eighteen scleractinian coral species belonging to 13 genera, 8 families and 4 suborders have been identified from the lower and upper parts of the Upper Jurassic (Oxfordian) Hanifa Formation at Jabal Al-Abakkayn, central Saudi Arabia. Actinastrea bernensis, A. crassoramosa, Coenastraea hyatti, Stylina kachensis, Cryptocoenia slovenica, C. wegeneri, Isastrea hemisphaerica, I. bernensis, Montlivaltia cornutiformis, M. frustriformis, Collignonastraea jumarensis, Ovalastrea michelini and Vallimeandropsis davidsoni are believed to be recorded for the first time from the Jurassic rocks of central Arabia. Most corals have massive hemispherical and globular forms, and few corals have dendroid and conical growth forms. They occur as small, isolated patches, about 0.5 m thick and about 10–30 m wide, in argillaceous reefal limestones. The identified corals show Africa, north America, northern, southern and western Europe, and southern or eastern Asia corals. The low diversity and abundance as well as the small size of colonies are attributed to inimical palaeoecological factors throughout the reefoids formation such as muddy substratum, water turbidity, high rate of sedimentation.     

Biodiversity patterns in Indian Ocean corals, and effects of taxonomic error in data

Corals from 26 sites in the Indian Ocean, from numerous taxonomic sources, are analysed for distribution patterns after applying a consistent synonymy. The data set contains double the amount of distribution information used previously. Cluster analysis shows several contiguous regional groupings within this ocean, and no geographically dispersed groupings exist. Between-site species similarity correlates negatively with distance between sites. Coral species diversity and genus diversity plotted with latitude and longitude confirm that a band of high diversity stretches across the entire Indian Ocean, but that in this Ocean, unlike the Pacific and greater Caribbean area, there is no clear gradient with latitude at least up to the latitudinal limits of coral growth. About half the species are widespread throughout the Indian Ocean. Species frequency/distribution curves and cumulative frequency curves show that 150 species occur at only 2–4 sites. Multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) analysis using only these species confirms that they are important in forming sub-regional groupings which are superimposed on a general Indian Ocean homogeneity.The perennial problem of error in taxonomic data sets is examined. Increasing taxonomic error is introduced into the data using random methods. It is found that about 25% more error can be added to this data set before the relationship between similarity coefficient and geographical distance between pairs of sites is lost. Measures extracted from the clustering procedure using the original data and the data sets with added taxonomic error, show a sharp loss in cluster formation after addition of about 10 or 20% more error.