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.

Eurypegasus draconis

Written by Tim Wijgerde

Taxonomy:

Eurypegasus draconis (Linnaeus, 1766)

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Vertebrata

Class: Actinopterygii

Order: Gasterosteiformes

Family: Pegasidae

Genus: Eurypegasus

Species: draconis

Eurypegasus draconis (Short dragonfish) is found in the Red Sea, around South Africa to the Marquesan and Society Islands, north to Southern Japan, south to Australia and Lord Howe Island, and throughout Micronesia. It inhabits lagoons, and often forages amongst algal or seagrass beds. It is found on sand or silt bottoms, frequently in bays or estuaries. Dragonfish are opportunistic feeders that collect mainly epifaunal and interstitial invertebrate prey, such as crustaceans and worms from the sediment-water interface. They shed their skin in one piece with a rapid jump periodically to rid themselves of accumulated ballast . Adults usually live in pairs on muddy substrates.

Author:

Tim Wijgerde

References:

RokAjaxSearch

Zooplankton feeding by corals underestimated

Octocorals found to be reef builders

Flatworms compete with corals for zooplankton

Small polyps do capture zooplankton