√ coral species id □ colony shape (branching, mound, plates, column, crust, etc) □ colony...
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: √ Coral Species ID □ Colony shape (branching, mound, plates, column, crust, etc) □ Colony surface (bumpy, smooth, ridges) □ Polyp/Corallite Size (small,](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649cfd5503460f949cde27/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
√ Coral Species ID
□ Colony shape (branching, mound, plates, column, crust, etc)
□ Colony surface (bumpy, smooth, ridges)
□ Polyp/Corallite Size (small, big)
□ Polyp/Corallite shape (round/elliptical, irregular, y-shaped, ‘ innies vs outies’ ridge/valley)
□ Polyp color (green, brown, tan, yellow, olive, red)
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Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessmentwww.agrra.org
University of Miami, RSMASDr. Robert Ginsburg
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Different corallite shapes & sizes
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Diploriastrigosa
© W
. Har
rigan
© M
. Whi
te
© S
. Sul
eim
án©
R. S
tene
ck
Examples of massive stony corals
Montastraea faveolata
Montastraea cavernosa
Poritesastreoides
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Montastraea faveolata MFAV
© S
. Tho
rnto
n
© S
. Tho
rnto
n
Form very large mounds, platesor crusts (to 4-5 m /12-15 ft)
Small, round polyps
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Montastraea faveolata MFAVSurfaces smooth, ridged, or with bumps aligned in vertical rows
© W. Harrigan © M. Weber © R. Steneck
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M. faveolata MFAV
Colonies are flattened, massive-plates with smooth surfaces under conditions of low light.
© T
. Tur
ner
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© A. Bruckner
How similar to M. faveolataSmall polyps
Smooth surface
How differentColonies are subdivided into numerous mounds or
columns with live polyps at
their summits.
Plates at colony bases under low light conditions.(to 3-4 m/9-12 ft)
Montastraea annularis MANN
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© B
. Kak
uk
M. faveolata MFAV
Which is which?
M. annularis MANN
© L
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ti
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Montastraea franksi MFRA
© P. Humann
Close-up
How similar to M. faveolataSmall polyps and bumps
How differentSome polyps in bumps are larger, irregularly shaped, and may lack zooxanthellae.
More aggressive spatial competitor.
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© R. Steneck
Montastraea franksi MFRA
How similar to M. faveolataForm mounds, short columns, crusts, and/or plates.
How differentBumps are scatteredover colony surface.(to 3-4 m/9-12 ft)
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Montastraea franksi MFRAFlattened, massive plate morphology in low light conditions.
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How similar to M. annularisSmall round polyps
Mounds
How differentLighter colors in life,
Walls of some polyps are
more distinct (“outies”)
Bumpy colony surface
(to ~1/2 m/<20 in)
Solenastrea bournoni SBOU
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How similar to S. bournoniLight colours
Polyps with distinct walls
How differentIrregular, lobes above
an encrusting base(to ~2/3 m/2 ft)
Solenastrea hyades SHYA
Humann (1993).
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Montastraea cavernosa MCAV
© J
. Lan
g
Close-up
large, round polyps
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M.cavernosa MCAV
Mounds, single columns,
thick crusts or thick plates.(< 3 m/9 ft)
Pink fluoresencesometimes seen underwater is due to a symbiotic cyanobacterium in the polyps.
© E. Weil
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M. Cavernosa MCAV
© T
. Tur
ner
Colonies can form flattened, massive-plates in low light conditions.
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© P
. Hum
ann
How similar to M. cavernosaDistinct polyps
Mounds, crusts or plates
© R
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neck
Dichocoenia stokesi DSTO
How differentAt least some elliptical
and Y-shaped polyps(usually <.5 m/18 in)
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How similar to D. stokesiDistinct, round-elongated polyps, some are Y-shaped.
How differentPolyps look more “spread out.”
Smaller colonies(usually <10cm/4 in)
Favia fragum FFRA
© P. Humann
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Palythoa caribaeorum
M. cavernosa
Palythoa
Close-up
How similar toM. cavernosa and D. stokesiDistinct polyps, some round
and others elliptical
Cream or light tan colour
How differentSoft-bodied crusts
Very aggressive spatial
competitor
© P. Humann © R. McCall
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© L
. Ben
venu
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Palythoa caribaeorum
Can be an excellent, early bleaching indicator
partially bleached colonies
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Siderastrea siderea SSIDSunken polyps (“innies”) with thin septa
© R
. Ste
neck
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Mounds
(to ~ 2 m/6 ft)
bleached
Siderastrea siderea SSID
© R
. St e
neck
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Siderastrea siderea SSID
Fluorescent colours in some bleached colonies.
bleached
© R
. Gin
sbur
g
dead
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Siderastrea radians SRADIrregular, sunken “pinched” polyps with fatter septa Small (to ~1/3 m/12 in)
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Which is which?
S. siderea S. radians
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Stephanocoenia intersepta SINT
Flat polyps which are darker (have more zoox. pigments) than intervening tissues
“Blush” when contracting
Mounds or crusts(to <1 m/<3 ft)
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© E
. Wei
l
Yellow, yellow-green or olive (shallow), gray or brown (deep or shade)
Small mounds, thick crusts or plates
(usually < 1 m/3 ft)
© E
. Wei
l
Porites astreoides PAST
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Polyps are narrow–but tall and look “fuzzy” when expanded.
Colony surfaces are usually bumpy.
Close-up
Porites astreoides PAST
© P. Humann
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Colpophyllia natans CNAT
© A
. Bru
ckne
r
Close-up
How different from other
brain coralsHas narrow “lines” along the
top, and midway down the
sides, of the ridges.
Often bicoloured
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Forms largest of brain coral mounds in shallow water.(to ~3 m/10 ft)
Colpophyllia natans CNAT
© R
. Ste
neck
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Colpophyllia natans CNAT
© T. Turner
Forms massive-plates in low light conditions
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How different from other brain coralsDistinct groove along middle of ridge–can be deeper and wider than the valleys.
© R
. McC
all
Diploria labyrinthiformis DLAB
Close-up
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Diploria labyrinthiformis DLAB
© R
. McC
all
Mounds in shallowwater(to >1 m/4 ft)
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Diploria strigosa DSTR
© L
. Ben
v enu
ti
How different from other brain corals
No distinct groove along middle ofridge.
Mounds or crustsin shallow water.(to ~ 2 m/6 ft)
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Diploria strigosa
DSTR
Massive-plates in low light conditions
© Q. Dokken
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How different from other brain corals
Narrow ridgesIrregular, lumpy crusts in shallow water
(to >1 m/4 ft)
Diploria clivosa DCLI
© R. Steneck
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Meandrina meandrites MMEA
killing P. astreoides
killing P. astreoides
Mounds and massive-plates
Very aggressive for a stony coral
(to ~1 m/3 ft)
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How similar to brainsPolyps in meanderingridges and valleys
How differentThick septa
Heavier skeletons
Polyps look bloatedwhen expanded
Some colonies form columns or small conical shapes
Close-up
Meandrina meandrites MMEA
© R. McCall
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All species Meandroid
Raised polyp centers look like stars
Small mounds, plates or crusts
Mycetophyllia aliciae
© P
. Dus
tan
Mycetophyllia spp.
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Mycetophyllia lamarckiana MLAM + M. danaana MDAM
Fleshy polypsMounds, cones, thickplates(to ~ 1/3 m/12 in)
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Mycetophyllia aliciae MALI
Thick crusts or plates
Ridges much reduced in lowlight conditions
(to ~ 1/2 m/20 in.)
© P. Dustan
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Mycetophyllia ferox MFER
Narrow ridges and valleys
Thin crusts orplates
(to ~2/3 m/2 ft)
© A. Budd
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Very fleshy, wide meandroid polyps
Narrow line alongtop of ridges
Small mounds
(to ~20 cm/8 in)
Isophyllia sinuosa ISIN
© R. Steneck
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How different from Mycetophyllia danaana
Fleshier polyps
No “stars’ around mouths
Isophyllia sinuosa ISIN
© D
. Fen
ner
© D
. Fen
ner
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Which is which?
Isophyllia sinuosa ISIN
M. lamarckiana MLAM
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Very fleshy polyps
Thin line along ridgetops
Small mounds(to <20 cm/8 in)
How different
Very short, constricted valleys usually only have 1-2 polyps
Isophyllastrea rigida IRIG
© R
. Ste
neck
How similar to Isophyllia sinuosa
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Larger, more fleshy polyps
Lighter polyp colours
More aggressive toother stony corals(to ~15 cm/6 in)
Scolymia lacera SLAC
© R
. Ste
neck
How different from Scolymia cubensis
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Tiny, reticulate polyps
Form plates, crusts, lumps, and keeled colonies
Smallest of the agariciids (to ~ 1 m/3 ft)
Agaricia agaricites AAGA
plate
lump
keels
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How different from A. agaricites Tiny, reticulate polyps on both sides of thin keels.
Agaricia tenuifolia ATEN
© R
. Ste
neck
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Forms larger colonies (to ~ 4 m/12 ft)
Agaricia tenuifolia ATEN
© R
. Ste
neck
How different from A. agaricites
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How different from A. agaricitesThick, dense platesDistinct polyp mouths
(to ~ 2 m/6 ft)
Agaricia lamarcki ALAM
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How different from A. agaricitesThin plates, not reticulateDistinct septa; polyp mouths point towards colony margin
(to ~ 2 m/6 ft)
Leptoseris (Helioseris) cucullata LCUC
Can be confusedwith A. undata(has smaller, straighter ridges; Humann p. 142)
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Examples of branching stony corals
Acroporacervicornis
Acroporapalmata
© R. McCall
Poritesporites
© K
. Des
ai
© R. McCall
Fragment easily; colony boundaries may be indistinct
![Page 55: √ Coral Species ID □ Colony shape (branching, mound, plates, column, crust, etc) □ Colony surface (bumpy, smooth, ridges) □ Polyp/Corallite Size (small,](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649cfd5503460f949cde27/html5/thumbnails/55.jpg)
Porites porites PPOR
Fat, stubby branches with blunt tips
© R. Steneck
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Porites porites PPOR
(Clumps to >1 m/3ft wide)
Millepora complanata
© K. Desai
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Porites furcata PFUR
Thin, long brancheswith round tips
(Clumps to >1 m/3ft wide)
© R. Steneck
Porites divaricata PDIV
Thin, widely-spaced branches, many Y-shaped at tip
(Clumps to ~1/3 m/1ft wide)
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Acropora cervicornis ACER
© R. Steneck
Long, thin round branches
(contiguous colonies to ~3m/10 ft)
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Acropora palmata APAL
© K. Desai
Millepora complanata
Flattened or thick-rounded branches
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Acropora palmata APAL
Clumps to >1 m/3ft wide
© R. McCall
(Continguous colonies to ~4m/12 ft)
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Acropora prolifera APRO
Intermediate in appearance & is a hybrid between A. palmata and A. cervicornis
See Human p. 91
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Madracis mirabilis MMIR
Close-up
Thin, near-parallel branches with blunt tipsOften expanded by day.
© M. Vermeij
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Madracis mirabilis MMIRDense clumps
(Can be many meters/10s of ft wide in sheltered habitats)
© R
. Ste
neck
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Madracis decactis MDEC
Short, stubby knobsor lumpy crusts
10 septa/polyp
(to ~15 cm/6 in)
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Madracis formosa MFOR
How different from M. decactis
Upright branchesWith blunt tops
8-10 septa/polyp
(to < 2m/6 ft)
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Eusmilia fastigiata EFASRound to ovoid, stalked poylps
(to ~2/3 m/<3 ft)
© R
. Ste
neck
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Mussa angulosa MANG
How similar to E. fastigiata Stalked polyps, only alive at tips
How differentPolyps are fleshy, larger, round, and opaque in colour
Septa have large teeth
(to <1 m/3 ft)
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Dendrogyra cylindrus DCYL
© L
. Ben
venu
ti
Polyps usually expanded by day
Dense columns,
(to >3m/10 ft)
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Millepora spp.
How different from scleractinian stony corals
Smooth colony surface has tiny pores with minute, translucent polyps.
© R
. Mc C
all
Millepora alcicornis
![Page 70: √ Coral Species ID □ Colony shape (branching, mound, plates, column, crust, etc) □ Colony surface (bumpy, smooth, ridges) □ Polyp/Corallite Size (small,](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062421/56649cfd5503460f949cde27/html5/thumbnails/70.jpg)
Millepora complanata MCOM
Box-like keels
(to ~2/3 m/<3 ft)
© R. Steneck
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Millepora alcicornis MALC
How different from M. complanata
Encrusts substratum and other organismsSmall, rounded branches
© R. Steneck
(to ~1/2 m/<20 in)
© R. Steneck