Black Mantle Tissue of Endolithic Mussels (<i>Leiosolenus</i> spp.) Is Cloaking Borehole Orifices in Caribbean Reef Corals
Bioerosion caused by boring mussels (Mytilidae: Lithophaginae) can negatively impact coral reef health. During biodiversity surveys of coral-associated fauna in Curaçao (southern Caribbean), morphological variation in mussel boreholes was studied. Borings were found in 22 coral species, 12 of which...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/5/401 |
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| author | Bert W. Hoeksema Annabel Smith-Moorhouse Charlotte E. Harper Roel. J. van der Schoot Rosalie F. Timmerman Roselle Spaargaren Sean J. Langdon-Down |
| author_facet | Bert W. Hoeksema Annabel Smith-Moorhouse Charlotte E. Harper Roel. J. van der Schoot Rosalie F. Timmerman Roselle Spaargaren Sean J. Langdon-Down |
| author_sort | Bert W. Hoeksema |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Bioerosion caused by boring mussels (Mytilidae: Lithophaginae) can negatively impact coral reef health. During biodiversity surveys of coral-associated fauna in Curaçao (southern Caribbean), morphological variation in mussel boreholes was studied. Borings were found in 22 coral species, 12 of which represented new host records. Dead corals usually showed twin siphon openings, for each mussel shaped like a figure of eight, which were lined with a calcareous sheath and protruded as tubes from the substrate surface. Most openings surrounded by live coral tissue were deeper and funnel-shaped, with outlines resembling dumbbells, keyholes, ovals or irregular ink blotches. The boreholes appeared to contain black siphon and mantle tissue of the mussel. Because of the black color and the hidden borehole opening in live host corals, the mantle tissue appeared to mimic dark, empty holes, while they were actually cloaking live coral tissue around the hole, which is a new discovery. By illustrating the morphological range of borehole orifices, we aim to facilitate the easy detection of boring mussels for future research. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:01:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2661938d8ee44a2382c5673b6ee03c3a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:01:18Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-2661938d8ee44a2382c5673b6ee03c3a2023-11-23T10:43:42ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182022-05-0114540110.3390/d14050401Black Mantle Tissue of Endolithic Mussels (<i>Leiosolenus</i> spp.) Is Cloaking Borehole Orifices in Caribbean Reef CoralsBert W. Hoeksema0Annabel Smith-Moorhouse1Charlotte E. Harper2Roel. J. van der Schoot3Rosalie F. Timmerman4Roselle Spaargaren5Sean J. Langdon-Down6Taxonomy, Systematics and Geodiversity Group, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The NetherlandsTaxonomy, Systematics and Geodiversity Group, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The NetherlandsTaxonomy, Systematics and Geodiversity Group, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The NetherlandsTaxonomy, Systematics and Geodiversity Group, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The NetherlandsTaxonomy, Systematics and Geodiversity Group, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The NetherlandsTaxonomy, Systematics and Geodiversity Group, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The NetherlandsTaxonomy, Systematics and Geodiversity Group, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The NetherlandsBioerosion caused by boring mussels (Mytilidae: Lithophaginae) can negatively impact coral reef health. During biodiversity surveys of coral-associated fauna in Curaçao (southern Caribbean), morphological variation in mussel boreholes was studied. Borings were found in 22 coral species, 12 of which represented new host records. Dead corals usually showed twin siphon openings, for each mussel shaped like a figure of eight, which were lined with a calcareous sheath and protruded as tubes from the substrate surface. Most openings surrounded by live coral tissue were deeper and funnel-shaped, with outlines resembling dumbbells, keyholes, ovals or irregular ink blotches. The boreholes appeared to contain black siphon and mantle tissue of the mussel. Because of the black color and the hidden borehole opening in live host corals, the mantle tissue appeared to mimic dark, empty holes, while they were actually cloaking live coral tissue around the hole, which is a new discovery. By illustrating the morphological range of borehole orifices, we aim to facilitate the easy detection of boring mussels for future research.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/5/401bioerosionboringcoral healthCuraçaohost recordsLithophaginae |
| spellingShingle | Bert W. Hoeksema Annabel Smith-Moorhouse Charlotte E. Harper Roel. J. van der Schoot Rosalie F. Timmerman Roselle Spaargaren Sean J. Langdon-Down Black Mantle Tissue of Endolithic Mussels (<i>Leiosolenus</i> spp.) Is Cloaking Borehole Orifices in Caribbean Reef Corals Diversity bioerosion boring coral health Curaçao host records Lithophaginae |
| title | Black Mantle Tissue of Endolithic Mussels (<i>Leiosolenus</i> spp.) Is Cloaking Borehole Orifices in Caribbean Reef Corals |
| title_full | Black Mantle Tissue of Endolithic Mussels (<i>Leiosolenus</i> spp.) Is Cloaking Borehole Orifices in Caribbean Reef Corals |
| title_fullStr | Black Mantle Tissue of Endolithic Mussels (<i>Leiosolenus</i> spp.) Is Cloaking Borehole Orifices in Caribbean Reef Corals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Black Mantle Tissue of Endolithic Mussels (<i>Leiosolenus</i> spp.) Is Cloaking Borehole Orifices in Caribbean Reef Corals |
| title_short | Black Mantle Tissue of Endolithic Mussels (<i>Leiosolenus</i> spp.) Is Cloaking Borehole Orifices in Caribbean Reef Corals |
| title_sort | black mantle tissue of endolithic mussels i leiosolenus i spp is cloaking borehole orifices in caribbean reef corals |
| topic | bioerosion boring coral health Curaçao host records Lithophaginae |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/5/401 |
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