Lobophyllia ishigakiensis

Lobophyllia ishigakiensis is a species of coral found in Indo-Pacific waters. It is widespread but uncommon throughout its range. It has a narrow depth range, and is susceptible to coral bleaching and disease. It is also threatened by the global loss of coral reef habitats.

Lobophyllia ishigakiensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Order: Scleractinia
Family: Lobophylliidae
Genus: Lobophyllia
Species:
L. ishigakiensis
Binomial name
Lobophyllia ishigakiensis
(Veron, 1990)[2]
Synonyms
  • Acanthastrea ishigakiensis Veron, 1990

Distribution and habitat

Lobophyllia ishigakiensis is found in the Indo-Pacific region. Its range extends from Madagascar and the east coast of Africa, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, to Japan, the East China Sea, Samoa and Australia. It is found in sheltered areas of reefs away from direct wave action to depths of 15 or 20 metres (49 or 66 ft).[1]

Biology

Lobophyllia ishigakiensis is a zooxanthellate species of coral.[2] It obtains most of its nutritional needs from the symbiotic dinoflagellates that live inside its soft tissues. These photosynthetic organisms provide the coral with organic carbon and nitrogen, sometimes providing up to 90% of their host's energy needs for metabolism and growth. Its remaining needs are met by the planktonic organisms caught by the tentacles of the polyps.[3]

Status

This coral has a wide range but is rare throughout its range. It is particularly susceptible to coral bleaching and to coral diseases. The main threats faced by corals in general are related to climate change and the mechanical destruction of their coral reef habitats; increasing damage from extreme weather events, rising sea water temperatures and ocean acidification. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed the conservation status of this species as being "vulnerable". All corals receive protection by being listed on CITES Appendix II.[1]

References
  1. Turak, E.; Sheppard, C. & Wood, E. (2014). "Acanthastrea ishigakiensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T133376A54246712. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T133376A54246712.en. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  2. Hoeksema, Bert (2018). "Lobophyllia ishigakiensis (Veron, 1990)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  3. Ruppert, Edward E.; Fox, Richard, S.; Barnes, Robert D. (2004). Invertebrate Zoology (7th ed.). Cengage Learning. p. 122. ISBN 978-81-315-0104-7.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.