Biol. Bull. Sign up for etocs!
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by West, J. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by West, J. M.

The Biological Bulletin, Vol 192, Issue 2 279-289, Copyright © 1997 by Marine Biological Laboratory

ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION

Plasticity in the Sclerites of a Gorgonian Coral: Tests of Water Motion, Light Level, and Damage Cues

J. M. West
Section of Ecology and Systematics, Corson Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-2701

The gorgonian coral Briareum asbestinum contains skeletal elements (sclerites) that vary in length and density within and among local populations. Data from previous work suggested that the sclerite compositions of colonies may be altered in response to environmental cues such as predator damage, water motion, and light level. To test these hypotheses, colonies from shallow reefs were transplanted to racks at a single location where the three environmental factors of interest were artificially manipulated. After 9-14 weeks of growth, sclerite morphologies and densities had not changed in response to shading or to water-motion reductions that mimicked deep-water conditions. However, colonies did respond significantly to two types of simulated predator damage. Following tip amputation, sclerites in the regenerated tips of damaged colonies were shorter and more dense than in the controls. In contrast, mid-branch scarring caused colonies to produce longer sclerites at lower densities. Since long sclerites deter feeding by predatory snails, the increase in sclerite length in response to scarring of mid-branch regions may function as an inducible defense.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Biol. Bull.Home page
E. E. G. Clavico, A. T. De Souza, B. A. P. Da Gama, and R. C. Pereira
Antipredator Defense and Phenotypic Plasticity of Sclerites From Renilla muelleri, a Tropical Sea Pansy
Biol. Bull., October 1, 2007; 213(2): 135 - 140.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol. Bull.Home page
E. Tentori and D. Allemand
Light-Enhanced Calcification and Dark Decalcification in Isolates of the Soft Coral Cladiella sp. During Tissue Recovery.
Biol. Bull., October 1, 2006; 211(2): 193 - 202.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol. Bull.Home page
M. S. Hill and A. L. Hill
Morphological Plasticity in the Tropical Sponge Anthosigmella varians: Responses to Predators and Wave Energy
Biol. Bull., February 1, 2002; 202(1): 86 - 95.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1997 by the Marine Biological Laboratory.