(a)
(d)
2.2. THE CASE STUDIES
(b)
(e)
51
(c)
(f)
form among octo corals. The functional importance of those architectures
is suggested by examples of both parallel (Caribbean and Indo-Pacific gorgoniidae) and convergent evolution (the pinnate structures in the Caribbean
genera Pseudopterogorgia and Muriceopsis, Fig. 2.30).
SCLERACTINIAN STONY CORALS (HEXACORALS). Corals are most common
in shallow, clear, oligotrophic, tropical waters where they help form coral
reefs. The taxonomic classification of corals relies traditionally upon the
morphological characteristics of coral skeletons and , especially, upon fine
scale (1 mm) morphological characteristics which were believed to be non -
variable within species. This classification is still the backbone of today's
coral identification where corals are seen as stable morphological entities
that show a degree of plasticity due to environmental influences. For example, reef corals were shown to change their morphology from massive
or branching forms in shallow water to plate-like colonies in deeper water.
An example of this is the colony shapes of the Caribbean coral Montastrea annularis (see Fig. 2.31), where the colony gradually transforms from
hemispherical form into a plate-like colony at deep locations. The branching
stony coral Porites sillimaniani, a common species in a variety of reef environments of the tropical Pacific, displays a striking variation of the whole
colony morphology with respect to light availability. Fig. 2.32a shows a typical branching morphotype from a shallow site, which gradually changes
into a plate-like growth form at deeper sites. Another example of this morphological plasticity was shown in Fig. 1.1, where the growth form of the
Indo-Pacific stony coral Pocillopora damicornis gradually transforms from
Fig. 2.30a-f. Photographs of black corals
(a and f) and gorgonian corals (b-e) .
(a) Stichopathes lutkeni; (b) Ctenocella (Viminella) barbadensis; (c) Pseudopterogorgia americana; (d) Muriceopsis flavida; (e) P. acerosa; (j) Antipathes
pennacea (all photos from Colombia
Caribbean by J.A. Sanchez)
(d)
2.2. THE CASE STUDIES
(b)
(e)
51
(c)
(f)
form among octo corals. The functional importance of those architectures
is suggested by examples of both parallel (Caribbean and Indo-Pacific gorgoniidae) and convergent evolution (the pinnate structures in the Caribbean
genera Pseudopterogorgia and Muriceopsis, Fig. 2.30).
SCLERACTINIAN STONY CORALS (HEXACORALS). Corals are most common
in shallow, clear, oligotrophic, tropical waters where they help form coral
reefs. The taxonomic classification of corals relies traditionally upon the
morphological characteristics of coral skeletons and , especially, upon fine
scale (1 mm) morphological characteristics which were believed to be non -
variable within species. This classification is still the backbone of today's
coral identification where corals are seen as stable morphological entities
that show a degree of plasticity due to environmental influences. For example, reef corals were shown to change their morphology from massive
or branching forms in shallow water to plate-like colonies in deeper water.
An example of this is the colony shapes of the Caribbean coral Montastrea annularis (see Fig. 2.31), where the colony gradually transforms from
hemispherical form into a plate-like colony at deep locations. The branching
stony coral Porites sillimaniani, a common species in a variety of reef environments of the tropical Pacific, displays a striking variation of the whole
colony morphology with respect to light availability. Fig. 2.32a shows a typical branching morphotype from a shallow site, which gradually changes
into a plate-like growth form at deeper sites. Another example of this morphological plasticity was shown in Fig. 1.1, where the growth form of the
Indo-Pacific stony coral Pocillopora damicornis gradually transforms from
Fig. 2.30a-f. Photographs of black corals
(a and f) and gorgonian corals (b-e) .
(a) Stichopathes lutkeni; (b) Ctenocella (Viminella) barbadensis; (c) Pseudopterogorgia americana; (d) Muriceopsis flavida; (e) P. acerosa; (j) Antipathes
pennacea (all photos from Colombia
Caribbean by J.A. Sanchez)