Acropora clathrata explained

Acropora clathrata, commonly known as lattice table coral is a species of stony corals belonging to the family Acroporidae.^[1] They are a zooxanthellate coral, which are generally found in fringing reefs, sheltered reefs and back reef habitats, between the depths of NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet).^{[2] [3]} Its size varies according to the depth at which they are found, with members of the species that have larger surface areas typically found at greater depths.^[4]

The species is native to Indo-Central Pacific region where it is widespread from Madagascar to the Red Sea to Western Australia.

Ecology

The species is an important resource for Spirobranchus giganteus, which is found embedded in Acropora chlathrata in much higher densities than other stony corals.^[4] Oil-degrading bacteria affiliated with Gammaproteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Firmicutes harbored in the tissue of Acropora clathrata aid the survival of the species as oil concentrations in their environment change.^[5]

Conservation

Per IUCN, the species has the status "least concern".

Life Cycle

Acropora eggs go through five changes in color as they develop. The first of these stages is white, followed by light-cream, cream, light-pink, and, finally, pink when mature.^[6]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Acropora clathrata (Brook, 1891) . www.gbif.org . 18 October 2021 . en.
2. Web site: Acropora clathrata. Corals of the World. 18 October 2021.
3. Web site: Acropora clathrata. 14 February 2017. WA Museum. 18 October 2021.
4. Floros . C.D. . Samways . M.J. . Armstrong . B. . May 2005 . Polychaete (Spirobranchus giganteus) loading on South African corals . Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems . en . 15 . 3 . 289–298 . 10.1002/aqc.666 . 2005ACMFE..15..289F . 1052-7613.
5. Al-Dahash . Lulwa M. . Mahmoud . Huda M. . 2013-07-30 . Harboring oil-degrading bacteria: A potential mechanism of adaptation and survival in corals inhabiting oil-contaminated reefs . Marine Pollution Bulletin . Coral reefs of the Gulf: Past, present and the future of a unique ecosystem . 72 . 2 . 364–374 . 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.08.029 . 23014479 . 2013MarPB..72..364A . 0025-326X.
6. M. Ibrahim . etal . Remon . 2021-03-01 . Gametogenic development and synchronous spawning of the acroporid corals Acropora cytherea and Acropora tenuis in the Red Sea . Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries . 25 . 2 . 419–436 . 10.21608/ejabf.2021.164595 . 2536-9814. free .