Unusual “Knob-Like Chimney” Growth Forms on Acropora Species in the Caribbean
This manuscript provides new insights on an unusual morphological plasticity growth form on Acropora spp. in the Caribbean. This abnormal knob-shaped growth is thought to be a progression from the damselfish “chimneys” that are commonly seen in coral-algal farms. However, the diameters of the observ...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2018-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2018.00041/full |
| _version_ | 1811303125117566976 |
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| author | Andrea Rivera-Sosa Andrea Rivera-Sosa Aarón Israel Muñiz-Castillo Melanie McField Jesús Ernesto Arias-González |
| author_facet | Andrea Rivera-Sosa Andrea Rivera-Sosa Aarón Israel Muñiz-Castillo Melanie McField Jesús Ernesto Arias-González |
| author_sort | Andrea Rivera-Sosa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This manuscript provides new insights on an unusual morphological plasticity growth form on Acropora spp. in the Caribbean. This abnormal knob-shaped growth is thought to be a progression from the damselfish “chimneys” that are commonly seen in coral-algal farms. However, the diameters of the observed knobs tend to be much larger on Acropora palmata, where they range from 1.37 to 5.44 cm in diameter, and they tend to be slightly smaller on A. prolifera, where they range from 1.1 to 2.72 cm in diameter. These knob-like chimney growths can affect entire colonies. The knobs are mostly covered with live tissue, while some knobs compete with turf algae. We hypothesize that these growths may be linked to stress from multiple predation and environmental conditions. Local stressors could synergistically influence the regeneration of scarred tissue and skeleton that result from predatory lesions, possibly leading to the formation of the knobs. Therefore, we provide preliminary data from a shallow reef site in coastal Honduras located within the Mesoamerican region where we found the knobs. To the best of our knowledge, the conditions that drive the occurrence of these unusual “knob-like chimneys” on Acropora spp. have not been previously assessed. Thus, we propose a series of guidelines to research the coral morphological plasticity that may be linked to this knob-like chimney phenomenon. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T07:42:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4d985b05aab84673933e833176f122bc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T07:42:17Z |
| publishDate | 2018-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-4d985b05aab84673933e833176f122bc2022-12-22T02:55:51ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452018-02-01510.3389/fmars.2018.00041280137Unusual “Knob-Like Chimney” Growth Forms on Acropora Species in the CaribbeanAndrea Rivera-Sosa0Andrea Rivera-Sosa1Aarón Israel Muñiz-Castillo2Melanie McField3Jesús Ernesto Arias-González4Laboratorio de Ecología de Ecosistemas de Arrecifes Coralinos, Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I.P.N. Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoDepartamento de Biología-CURLA, Universidad Nacional Aútonoma de Honduras, La Ceiba, HondurasLaboratorio de Ecología de Ecosistemas de Arrecifes Coralinos, Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I.P.N. Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoHealthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative, Smithsonian Institution, Florida, FL, United StatesLaboratorio de Ecología de Ecosistemas de Arrecifes Coralinos, Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I.P.N. Mérida, Yucatán, MexicoThis manuscript provides new insights on an unusual morphological plasticity growth form on Acropora spp. in the Caribbean. This abnormal knob-shaped growth is thought to be a progression from the damselfish “chimneys” that are commonly seen in coral-algal farms. However, the diameters of the observed knobs tend to be much larger on Acropora palmata, where they range from 1.37 to 5.44 cm in diameter, and they tend to be slightly smaller on A. prolifera, where they range from 1.1 to 2.72 cm in diameter. These knob-like chimney growths can affect entire colonies. The knobs are mostly covered with live tissue, while some knobs compete with turf algae. We hypothesize that these growths may be linked to stress from multiple predation and environmental conditions. Local stressors could synergistically influence the regeneration of scarred tissue and skeleton that result from predatory lesions, possibly leading to the formation of the knobs. Therefore, we provide preliminary data from a shallow reef site in coastal Honduras located within the Mesoamerican region where we found the knobs. To the best of our knowledge, the conditions that drive the occurrence of these unusual “knob-like chimneys” on Acropora spp. have not been previously assessed. Thus, we propose a series of guidelines to research the coral morphological plasticity that may be linked to this knob-like chimney phenomenon.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2018.00041/fullAcroporalesionsdamselfish chimneysknob-like chimney growthenvironmental plasticityCaribbean |
| spellingShingle | Andrea Rivera-Sosa Andrea Rivera-Sosa Aarón Israel Muñiz-Castillo Melanie McField Jesús Ernesto Arias-González Unusual “Knob-Like Chimney” Growth Forms on Acropora Species in the Caribbean Frontiers in Marine Science Acropora lesions damselfish chimneys knob-like chimney growth environmental plasticity Caribbean |
| title | Unusual “Knob-Like Chimney” Growth Forms on Acropora Species in the Caribbean |
| title_full | Unusual “Knob-Like Chimney” Growth Forms on Acropora Species in the Caribbean |
| title_fullStr | Unusual “Knob-Like Chimney” Growth Forms on Acropora Species in the Caribbean |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unusual “Knob-Like Chimney” Growth Forms on Acropora Species in the Caribbean |
| title_short | Unusual “Knob-Like Chimney” Growth Forms on Acropora Species in the Caribbean |
| title_sort | unusual knob like chimney growth forms on acropora species in the caribbean |
| topic | Acropora lesions damselfish chimneys knob-like chimney growth environmental plasticity Caribbean |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2018.00041/full |
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