[Coral-List] Circular patches on Millepora

[Rupert Ormond]

Hi Stephan (et al.),

Interesting question, I am not familiar with such damage from that area. 
Their circular nature does make one think of COT scars, but they would 
have to be very small ones and COTs normally actively avoid Millepora 
because they get stung by it!

But is that a Drupella in the lower right of the larger picture?  I 
think that might be the cause.  Drupella have become quite common in the 
northern Red Sea.

Where was the picture taken?  In Sinai or down south.  I am heading out 
to Sharm for some fieldwork next week and will keep an eye open.
kind regards,

Rupert

  --

*Prof. Rupert Ormond*

Corresponding Secretary, International Society for Reef Studies.
Professor, Centre for Marine Biodiversity & Biotechnology, Heriot-Watt 
University, Edinburgh.





On 15/03/2012 10:09, Stephan Moldzio wrote:
>
>
> Dear Listers,
>
>
> during our recent Reef Check Surveys in Red Sea Egypt we´ve observed some circular patches on a Millepora.
> We have sent these pics to some experts, but we don´t have a completely satisfying explanation so far.
> Maybe somebody can help?
>
>
>
> Possible explanations so far:
> -         Feeding scars Coralliophila (but where are they??? And why Millepora instead of Porites?)
> -          Feeding scars baby COTS? (COTS tend to create paths instead of single blotches?)
> -         Some kind of Coral Disease?
> -         Anomaly of Millepora (sometimes Millepora forms "tissue bubbles" at branches as well as "bleached" small areas. But we have not seen these perfectly round patches so far...)
>
>
> You can watch the pics here:
> http://reefcheck.de/de/news-und-events/neues-von-reef-check/329-millepora-lesions
>
>
> We would be happy if you could send your opinion to my email adress. Thanks!
>
>
> Best regards,
> Stephan Moldzio
>
>
>
>
>> °)#=<  >=#(°<  >=#(°<  >°)=#<  >°)#=<  >=#(°<  >=#(°<  >°)#=<  >°)#=<  >=#(°<
> Biologische Meereskunde&  Meeresaquaristik
> Dipl. biol. Stephan Moldzio
> Eschenburgstr. 6
> 38106 Braunschweig
> Tel.: +49 531 / 81482
> mobil: +49 151 / 12721681
>
>
>
>
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