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Movement in soft corals: An interaction between Nephthea brassica (Coelenterata: Octocorallia) and Acropora hyacinthus (Coelenterata: Scleractinia)

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Abstract

An interaction between the alcyonarian octocoral Nephthea brassica Kukenthal, 1904 and the scleractinian Acropora hyacinthus Dana was photographed and the assemblage collected at Rib Reef (18°15′S; 146°45′E), Central Region of the Great Barrier Reef, in September 1980. The interaction, which did not involve allelopathy, was characterised by extensive deposition of undifferentiated aragonite by the scleractinian in the vicinity of the soft coral, which moved across the surface of the acroporid. The basal attachment region of the nephtheid showed structural features which permitted movement. The net effect of this interaction was a series of divided trails across the surface of the acroporid plate evidencing the movement through growth and asexual division of the parent colony. These trails were susceptible to secondary colonisation by epifauna and algae which may reduce the fitness of the acroporid. This movement appears to afford N. brassica a distinct advantage in competing for space with acroporid corals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, James Cook University of North Queensland, 4811, Townsville, Queensland, Australia

    S. La Barre & J. C. Coll

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  1. S. La Barre
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  2. J. C. Coll
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Communicated by G. F. Humphrey, Sydney

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La Barre, S., Coll, J.C. Movement in soft corals: An interaction between Nephthea brassica (Coelenterata: Octocorallia) and Acropora hyacinthus (Coelenterata: Scleractinia). Marine Biology 72, 119–124 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00396912

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