Identifying AGRRA Corals: Part 2 Meandroid, Solitary and Flower Corals

Transcription

1 Identifying AGRRA Corals: Part 2 Meandroid, Solitary and Flower Corals Judith Lang and Kenneth Marks Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) Program Revision:

2 The following images are Copyright by New World Publications and by other photographers. Permission is granted to use the photographs and slides in this presentation with the AGRRA Program and, with attribution, for other valid educational programs.. All other uses are strictly prohibited. For images used in Part 2, our special thanks to: B. Beck, H. Cummins, B. Grayson, E. Hickerson/FGBNMS, P. Humann, R. McCall, C. Sheppard, R. Steneck, T. Turner, E. Weil

3 Reminder: What to Look for Underwater Colony shape massive (= mound, columnar, heavy plates), crust, plate, branching Colony size range small to big Colony surface bumpy, smooth, ridged Polyp size small to big Polyp shape round, elliptical, irregular, Y-shaped Polyp colour brown, tan, yellow, olive, green, red Septal shape fat, thin; smooth, toothed Adapted from P.R. Kramer

4 Reminder: AGRRA Coral Species The stony corals illustrated here are limited to species found in the wider Caribbean at depths (<20 m) typical of most AGRRA surveys. The names of some of these corals are changing as a result of modern research. More taxa are added as we gain underwater photographs of species that are rare and/or of geographically limited distributions. Expect periodic updates! Photographers who can enhance this collection are encouraged to contact Judy Lang at: jlang@riposi.net or info@agrra.org For each species: (# in m and ft) = maximum colony size

5 Remember: Coding Corals in AGRRA Surveys Use the CARICOMP-based coral codes. The coral code for a genus (or occasionally a species complex) is the first 4 letters of its genus name and should be used whenever you are unsure of a coral s species identity: MEAN = Meandrina The coral code for a species is the first letter of the genus name followed by the first 3 letters of its species name: MJAC = Meandrina jacksoni Codes are shown before names appear on the introductory slide for species that are commonly recorded in AGRRA surveys.

6 Meandroid Corals colonies have interconnected polyp mouths in valleys that are separated by ridges Colpophyllia natans CNAT

7 Colpophyllia natans CNAT narrow grooves along the tops, and midway down the sides, of the ridges ridges have narrow septa narrow septa connect polyp mouths CNAT

8 Colpophyllia natans CNAT tissues may have two colours or two shades of one colour; may have stripes on ridges; valleys may be fluorescent largest of the meandroid corals (to ~ 3 m/10 ft) shallow/high light: mounds deep/low light: thick plates R. Steneck T. Turner

9 Manicina areolata* MARE distinct grooves in ridge tops vertical ridge sides free-living or attached yellow-brown, grey or green; may have lighter patches in ridge tops (to ~ 20 cm/8 in) Close-up MARE *Attached colonies on reefs are also known as Manicina mayori (MMAY) or as M. areolata f. mayori.

10 Manicina areolata MARE How differs from C. natans: wider grooves in the ridges polyp mouths not connected by septa colonies are smaller when fully grown

11 Which is Which? B. Grayson C. natans M. areolata CNAT MARE

12 Diploria labyrinthiformis DLAB prominent groove along the top of the ridges can be deeper or wider than the valleys! tan to brown colours, valleys may fluoresce DLAB Close-up DLAB

13 Diploria labyrinthiformis DLAB examples of variation in meander pattern and tissue colour rounded mounds (to ~ 1 m/>3 ft) R. McCall

14 Diploria labyrinthiformis DLAB How differs from M. areolata: narrower valleys grooves in all ridges, can be much deeper and wider tentacles often partially expanded by day colonies are larger when fully grown Close-up

15 Which is Which? P. Humann M. areolata D. labyrinthiformis MARE DLAB

16 Which is Which? D. labyrinthiformis C. natans DLAB CNAT

17 Which is Which? D. labyrinthiformis D. stokesi DLAB DSTO (see Coral ID-1)

18 On the basis of recent molecular and morphological analyses, Diploria strigosa and D. clivosa have been reclassified as species in a new genus called Pseudodiploria. See Budd et al., 2012 (reference given on final slide).

19 Pseudodiploria strigosa PSTR groove along ridge tops is very narrow and often indistinct yellow-brown, green, brown or bluish grey; valleys may be lighter or fluoresce mounds, thick crusts or massive plates PSTR (to ~2 m/6 ft)

20 Pseudodiploria strigosa PSTR shallow/high light: mounds or thick crusts in water deep/low light: massive plates C. Sheppard E. Hickerson

21 Pseudodiploria strigosa PSTR How differs from D. labyrinthiformis, C. natans and M. areolata: groove along ridge tops is very narrow and often indistinct narrower valleys

22 Which is Which? B. Grayson B. Grayson D. labyrinthiformis C. natans M. areolata P. strigosa DLAB CNAT MARE PSTR

23 Pseudodiploria clivosa PCLI narrow ridges lack grooves shallow, narrow valleys yellow-brown, green, brown or bluish or grey; valleys may be lighter than ridges, a different colour, or fluoresce PCLI PCLI B. Grayson

24 Pseudodiploria clivosa PCLI flattened or irregular, lumpy crusts (usually ~ 1 m/>3 ft; sometimes larger) shallow depth range

25 Pseudodiploria clivosa PCLI How differs from C. natans and P. strigosa: smaller ridges lack grooves smaller valleys septa are thinner and more numerous flat or lumpy crusts found in shallow depths only C. Sheppard

26 Which is Which? P. strigosa P. clivosa C. natans PSTR PCLI CNAT

27 Meandrina meandrites MMEA wide ridges with large, thick septa deep, narrow valleys pale yellow to dark orange or dark brown MMEA Close-up MMEA R. McCall E. Weil

28 Meandrina meandrites MMEA thick plates or crusts, mounds, or short columns (to ~ 1 m/3 ft) very aggressive towards most other corals has killed PAST killing PAST H. Cummins

29 Meandrina meandrites MMEA How small, attached* corals differ from small attached M. areolata: thick ridges with large, thick septa deep narrow valleys in which narrow septa connect polyp mouths *The small, elongate, free- living (unattached) corals that inhabit sand or seagrass meadows are now called Meandrina danae (see Pinzón and Weil, 2011).

30 Which is Which? C. Sheppard M. meandrites M. areolata MMEA MARE

31 Meandrina jacksoni MJAC* low, narrow ridges with short, thick, widely spaced septa wide, shallow valleys white tentacles usually conspicuous MJAC* MJAC* * A new species described by Weil and Pinzón in Pinzón and Weil, 2011 (reference given on final slide).

32 Meandrina jacksoni MJAC usually pale cream or pale yellow mounds, thick plates or crusts, short columns or irregular shapes (to > 1 m/3 ft) E. Weil

33 Meandrina jacksoni MJAC How differs from M. meandrites shallower, wider valleys lower, narrower ridges, with lower, and more widely spaced, septa polyps more likely to be visible by day Close-up

34 How lumpy colonies differ from lumpy P. clivosa: wider valleys wider ridges with larger septa polyps more likely to be visible by day Meandrina jacksoni MJAC

35 Which is Which? M. meandrites M. jacksoni MMEA MJAC

36 Which is Which? P. Kramer M. jacksoni P. clivosa MJAC PCLI

37 Dendrogyra cylindrus DCYL tall columns above a massive base polyps are usually expanded by day tan, yellow-brown to dark brown DCYL (to > 3 m/10 ft) Close-up DCYL C. Sheppard

38 Dendrogyra cylindrus DCYL How differs from Meandrina spp. polyps are usually fully expanded by day very deep, narrow valleys ridges usually wide and flat on top colonies are much larger when fully grown

39 Which is Which? M. jacksoni D. cylindrus M. meandrites MJAC DCYL MMEA

40 Mycetophyllia MYCE Close-up All species: polyp mouths connected by septa with distinct teeth Mycetophyllia aliciae MALC

41 Mycetophyllia ferox MFER thick crusts or plates withnarrow ridges that fork, subdividing some of the narrow valleys raised septal margins around polyp mouths dull or fluorescent colours MFER (to ~ 60 cm/2 ft) aggressive towards many other corals Close-up MFER E. Weil B. Grayson

42 Mycetophyllia ferox MFER examples of variation in extent of ridge development and of tissue colour: dull greys, green, yellow-brown or brown; mouths may be paler or fluorescent pink, orange or red E. Weil

43 Mycetophyllia aliciae MALI thick crusts or plates some wide valleys; ridges radiate away from the colony center brown, green, yellow-brown or yellow-green; may have white or pale green spots or lines on ridges and on the raised septal margins around the mouths MALI (to ~ 75 cm/30 in) E. Weil

44 Mycetophyllia aliciae MALI examples of variation in extent of ridge development and tissue colour C. Sheppard

45 Mycetophyllia aliciae MALI How similar to M. ferox: thick crusts and plates raised septal margins around polyp mouths How differs: taller ridges that rarely intersect, and wider valleys; all radiating away from the colony center brighter colours

46 Which is Which? M. ferox M. aliciae MFER MALI

47 Mycetophyllia lamarckiana complex MLAM mounds or inverted cones septal margins not raised around polyp mouths brown, yellow-brown, grey or green; ridges may be pale (to ~ 40 cm/16 in) MLAM MLAM MLAM MLAM MLAM E. Weil

48 Mycetophyllia lamarckiana complex MLAM forma danaana may be coded as MDAN forma lamarckiana Seen from above dome shaped elongate ridges inverted-cone shape ridges radiate from center

49 Mycetophyllia lamarckiana complex MLAM How differs from M. aliciae and M. ferox: mounds or inverted cones, not thick crusts or plates septal margins not raised around polyp mouths colonies are smaller when fully grown

50 Complications! Some colonies of Mycetophyllia resemble intermediates among these forms and species. + Ridges in some M. lamarckiana f. danaana* and M. aliciae are incredibly sub-divided. If unsure of species identity, code as: Mycetophyllia MYCE * Spelled daniana in earlier versions of Coral ID-2; danaana is reinstated as the proper spelling (V. Zlatarski and S. Cairns, pers. comm., August, 2012 ).

51 Isophyllia sinuosa ISIN fleshy polyps large ridges with distinct septal teeth short, deep valleys grey, green, yellow or brown; may have several colours or fluoresce small mounds (usually ~ 20 cm/8 in) ISIN Close-up P. Humann

52 Isophyllia sinuosa ISIN How similar to the M. lamarckiana complex: mounds with large septal teeth How differs: fleshier polyps polyp mouths not linked by septa Close-up B. Beck

53 On the basis of recent molecular and morphological analyses, the genus Isophyllastrea has been synonymized with Isophyllia. See Budd et al., 2012 (reference given on final slide).

54 Isophyllia rigida IRIG distinct septal teeth very short, irregularly shaped valleys, with 1-3 polyp mouths (really not meandroid) ridge tissues often tan or brown, valleys pale or white small mounds (to ~ 20 cm/8 in) IRIG

55 Isophyllia rigida IRIG How similar to I. sinuosa: very fleshy polyps large septal teeth thin groove along ridge tops How different: shorter valleys different colour patterns

56 Which is Which? M. lamarckiana complex I. rigida I. sinuosa MLAM IRIG ISIN

57 Scolymia SCOL All species: solitary polyps, occasionally have more than one mouth large septal teeth Scolymia cubensis SCUB

58 Scolymia cubensis SCUB* teeth may be visible beneath tissues brown, green or grey; may have lighter stripes or streaks, or fluoresce SCUB* SCUB* (to ~ 10 cm/4 in) aggressive spatial competitor SCUB* *As presently described, SCUB may include polyps of Scolymia wellsi.

59 Scolymia lacera SLAC very fleshy polyps with warts over the very large septal teeth pale or opaque, grey, green, blue-green or brown; may be lighter over the septa SLAC (to ~ 15 cm/6 in) very aggressive spatial competitor

60 Scolymia lacera SLAC How differs from S. cubensis: larger, more fleshy polyps duller colours more aggressive spatial competitor P. Humann

61 Which is Which? P. Humann S. lacera S. cubensis SLAC SCUB

62 Mussa angulosa MANG large, fleshy polyps are alive only at tops of stalks large septal teeth opaque greys, greens, yellowbrowns often mottled, sometimes fluoresce pinks or reds (to ~ 1 m/3 ft) very aggressive spatial competitor MANG MANG P. Humann

63 Eusmilia fastigiata EFAS round to ovoid or elongate, stalked polyps only alive at tips smooth septa visible through tissues yellow-brown, brown or grey EFAS (to ~ 75 cm/30 in)

64 Eusmilia fastigiata EFAS How similar to M. angulosa: stalked polyps only alive at tips How differs: polyps are smaller and less fleshy colours are uniformly pale septa lack teeth R. Steneck

65 Which is Which? E. fastigiata M. angulosa EFAS MANG

66 References Budd, A.F., H. Fukami, N.D. Smith and N. Knowlton Taxonomic classification of the reef coral family Mussidae (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Scleractinia). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 166: Pinzón C, J.H. and E. Weil Cryptic species within the Atlantic Caribbean genus Meandrina (Scleractinia): a multidisciplinary approach and description of the new species Meandrina jacksoni. Bulletin of Marine Science 87: