[Coral-List] Porites defending themselves WITH Turf Algae?

[Mary-Alice Coffroth]

Hi Damien,
Porites often form mucous covering ("mucous sheets") that can become fouled with bacteria, algae, etc.  These sheets are then shed periodically.  Below are several older papers published on this.  Please let me know if you need copies of these.
All the best,
Mary Alice

Coffroth, M.A.  The function and fate of mucous sheets produced by reef coelenterates.  In: J.H. Choat, et al. (eds), Proc. 6th Int. Coral Reef Symp., James Cook University, Townsville, Australia, vol 2, pp. 15-20.  (1988)

Coffroth, M.A. Mucous sheet formation on poritid corals:  effects of altered salinity and sedimentation.  Proc. 5th Inter. Coral Reef Congress., Tahiti. 4:165-170 (1985)

Coffroth, M.A.  Cyclical mucous sheet formation on poritid corals in the San Blas Islands, Panama.  Mar. Biol. 109:35-40. (1991)

Coffroth, M.A. Mucous sheet formation on poritid corals: An evaluation of coral mucus as a nutrient source on reefs. Mar. Bio. 105: 39-49. (1990)

Mary Alice Coffroth, PhD
Professor
Department of Geology
Office: 457 Hochstetter Hall

126 Cooke Hall
Department of Geology
State University of New York at Buffalo
Buffalo NY 14260

Phone: 716-645-4871 (office)
      716-645- 4874 (lab)
Fax:   716-645-3999
Email: Coffroth at buffalo.edu
Web page:  http://burr.bio.buffalo.edu/

-----Original Message-----
From: Coral-List <coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov> On Behalf Of Damien Beri via Coral-List
Sent: Sunday, December 17, 2023 12:32 AM
To: coral list <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
Subject: [Coral-List] Porites defending themselves WITH Turf Algae?

Aloha Coral List,

I was searching for some evidence in the literature on Porites coral using turf algae to defend themselves from exposure. The Coral Conservancy (community coral restoration in Hawaii) has noticed that the Porites evermanni/lutea coral (and newly invasive Harbor Porites) we have been working with here in Hawaii tend to cover themselves in turf algae during warm periods and then seem to shed this algae off during cooler periods?
Porites are perforate corals, so it seems they then regrow from under the algae. There are periods when many of the large Porites appear to be shedding simultaneously as if some environmental que triggers this for all the Porites in the region. Thoughts? We have some time series imagery demonstrating this phenomena.

Thanks,
Damien Beri
President, The Coral Conservancy
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