Zooplankton feeding by corals underestimated

Research by marine biologists from Wageningen University has shown that feeding on zooplankton by scleractinian corals has been greatly underestimated.

Octocorals found to be reef builders

Scientists from Taiwan and Israel have found that octocorals are important reef builders. This exciting discovery makes us rethink the very nature of coral reefs.

Flatworms compete with corals for zooplankton

Epizoic coral flatworms have been found to compete with their coral host for zooplankton. This finding is in agreement with the theory that symbiotic coral flatworms are parasitic.

Small polyps do capture zooplankton

Small polyped stony corals are often believed to simply rely on strong lighting and dissolved nutrients. But even these corals capture significant amounts of plankton.

Neptheis fascicularis

Written by Tim Wijgerde

Taxonomy:

Neptheis fascicularis (Drasche, 1882)

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Urochordata

Class: Ascidiacea

Order: Enterogona

Family: Polycitoridae

Genus: Neptheis

Species: fascicularis

This species was tentatively identified as Neptheis fascicularis. Tunicates are true filter feeders, which are able to filter hundreds of liters of water per day and remove over 95% of its bacteria. Water is pumped through the branchial siphon, and eventually out of the atrial siphon. Inside the animal, bacteria and phytoplankton are filtered from the water, which are trapped by the mucous layer lining the branchial basket of the tunicate. For a detailed article of these unique creatures, see the article of Dr. Shimek in Advanced Aquarist's Online Magazine.

Author:

Tim Wijgerde

References:

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Zooplankton feeding by corals underestimated

Octocorals found to be reef builders

Flatworms compete with corals for zooplankton

Small polyps do capture zooplankton