The branch coral (Acropora florida) is a species of acroporidcoral found in the southwest and northern Indian Ocean, the central Indo-Pacific, Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan and the East China Sea, Cook Islands and the oceanic west Pacific Ocean. It can be found in shallow reefs on the reef tops, walls and slopes to depths of 30 m.
Colonies of Acropora florida consist of thick upright, and sometimes horizontal, branches growing from a sprawling or encrusting base. There are side branches and small branchlets which resemble knobs. The corallites are evenly spread. The colour of this coral varies, and may be pinkish-brown or some shade of green.[2]
Biologyedit
Acropora florida is a zooxanthellate species of coral.[2] It obtains most of its nutritional needs from the symbioticdinoflagellates that live inside its soft tissues. These photosynthetic organisms provide the coral with organic carbon and nitrogen, sometimes providing up to 90% of their host's energy needs for metabolism and growth. Its remaining needs are met by the planktonic organisms caught by the tentacles of the polyps.[3]
Statusedit
This coral is a common species and no species-specific threats have been identified. The main threats faced by corals in general are related to climate change and the mechanical destruction of their coral reef habitats; increasing damage from extreme weather events, rising sea water temperatures and ocean acidification. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed the conservation status of this species as being "near threatened". All corals receive protection by being listed on CITES Appendix II.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abRichards, Z.T.; Delbeek, J.T.; Lovell, E.R.; Bass, D.; Aeby, G.; Reboton, C. (2014). "Acropora florida". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T132869A54151400. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T132869A54151400.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^Ruppert, Edward E.; Fox, Richard, S.; Barnes, Robert D. (2004). Invertebrate Zoology (7th ed.). Cengage Learning. p. 122. ISBN978-81-315-0104-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
January 01, 1970
branch, coral, branch, coral, acropora, florida, species, acroporid, coral, found, southwest, northern, indian, ocean, central, indo, pacific, australia, southeast, asia, japan, east, china, cook, islands, oceanic, west, pacific, ocean, found, shallow, reefs, . The branch coral Acropora florida is a species of acroporid coral found in the southwest and northern Indian Ocean the central Indo Pacific Australia Southeast Asia Japan and the East China Sea Cook Islands and the oceanic west Pacific Ocean It can be found in shallow reefs on the reef tops walls and slopes to depths of 30 m Branch coral Conservation status Near Threatened IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Cnidaria Class Hexacorallia Order Scleractinia Family Acroporidae Genus Acropora Species A florida Binomial name Acropora florida Dana 1846 2 Synonyms ListAcropora affinis Brook 1893 Acropora gravida Dana 1846 Acropora multiramosa Nemenzo 1967 Acropora polymorpha Brook 1891 Madrepora affinis Brook 1893 Madrepora brachyclades Ortmann 1888 Madrepora compressa Bassett Smith 1890 Madrepora florida Dana 1846 Madrepora gravida Dana 1846 Madrepora ornata Brook 1891 Madrepora polymorpha Brook 1891 Contents 1 Description 2 Biology 3 Status 4 ReferencesDescription editColonies of Acropora florida consist of thick upright and sometimes horizontal branches growing from a sprawling or encrusting base There are side branches and small branchlets which resemble knobs The corallites are evenly spread The colour of this coral varies and may be pinkish brown or some shade of green 2 Biology editAcropora florida is a zooxanthellate species of coral 2 It obtains most of its nutritional needs from the symbiotic dinoflagellates that live inside its soft tissues These photosynthetic organisms provide the coral with organic carbon and nitrogen sometimes providing up to 90 of their host s energy needs for metabolism and growth Its remaining needs are met by the planktonic organisms caught by the tentacles of the polyps 3 Status editThis coral is a common species and no species specific threats have been identified The main threats faced by corals in general are related to climate change and the mechanical destruction of their coral reef habitats increasing damage from extreme weather events rising sea water temperatures and ocean acidification The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed the conservation status of this species as being near threatened All corals receive protection by being listed on CITES Appendix II 1 References edit a b Richards Z T Delbeek J T Lovell E R Bass D Aeby G Reboton C 2014 Acropora florida IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014 e T132869A54151400 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2014 1 RLTS T132869A54151400 en Retrieved 19 November 2021 a b c Hoeksema Bert 2015 Acropora florida Dana 1846 WoRMS World Register of Marine Species Retrieved 8 August 2015 Ruppert Edward E Fox Richard S Barnes Robert D 2004 Invertebrate Zoology 7th ed Cengage Learning p 122 ISBN 978 81 315 0104 7 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Branch coral amp oldid 1216534653, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
