Literature request for Palythoa/scleractinian interaction
alberto alcosta
laacosta55 at hotmail.com
Mon Jun 5 12:41:58 EDT 2000
Dear Cheryl
I have follow Palythoa caribaeorum closely during more than 4 years in Sao
Paulo coast, Brazil and also in Colombian Caribbean coast. I agree with Dr.
Burnett that corals die for many reasons (euthophication etc..) and later
the free space is colonize by Zoanthids. After colonization Zoanthids can
keep the space for many years or decades, it can be done throughout several
mechanisms of asexual reproduction and active competition. Some of the
mechanisms of asexual strategies I have documented in my Ph.D. thesis that
you can find at Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium library (LUMCON).
I have seen few times Palythoa/scleractinian interactions in the field, but
frequently Palythoa - Zoanthus interactions, or sponge or ascidea - Palythoa
interactions. In my experience, species that arrive close to zoanthids
remain in stand-off for months or years, of coarse who wins it will depends
of many factors but usually this process its takes time.
Palythoa caribaeorum is now the dominant specie in shallow areas in Santa
Marta, Colombian Caribbean coast were 20 years ago was occupied by hard
corals. This place in my point of view was affected hardly by
eutrophication and sedimentation process.
In Sao paulo coast, Rio de Janeiro and Recife Brazil I have found
extensively areas dominated by Palythoa caribaeorum. I can say that this is
one of the key benthic species in these systems. I have measured colonies
as big as 32m2.
I think that zoanthids will cover more and more space in the next future and
probably they will receive more attention by coral scientist.
Further reference
Undergraduate thesis in Palythoa caribaeorum.
Marcela Gonzalez. 1999. Colony size vs. fission. Pontificia Universidad
Javeriana, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biologia, Bogota, Colombia.
(Spanish).
-------------
Alberto Acosta
Asociate Professor
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
Bogota, Colombia
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