Antillogorgia elisabethae explained

Antillogorgia elisabethae is a species of soft coral found in the Caribbean Sea in the shape of a sea plume (also called a sea whip). It resides from depths of 25m (82feet) to 30m (100feet), often at reef drop-offs. It looks like a plume of feathery appendages with radial symmetry. The branches of A. elisabethae are pinnate and distichous, and will orient themselves in the direction of the ocean current. It ranges in size from 0.3m (01feet) to 2m (07feet).[1] It is considered commercially important as it is harvested for analgesics and cosmetic creams.[2] The compound that is believed to cause its beneficial effects is Pseudopterosin A, a diterpene glycoside,[3] a selective analgesic.[4] A. elisabethae is also used in fish tanks as a part of the commercial pet industry.[5] The species has a Least Concern conservation status.

Reproduction

The female exposes her eggs to the water current by placing them on her reproductive polyps. Sperm will eventually come into contact with the eggs, and the fertilized egg will develop into a planula in 1–2 days. The larvae form a colony on the parent for 2–4 days and then will become free-swimming. The free-swimming larvae are ciliated and bilaterally symmetric. Once the larvae become free-swimming, they will usually settle near the parent organism, as they are negatively buoyant and will sink to the ocean floor, where they grow into adults and continue the cycle. Its mating system is thus polygynandrous. The peak reproductive times for A. elisabethae are between November and January.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae . 2013 . University of Michigan . 15 January 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170115202810/http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Pseudopterogorgia_elisabethae/ . 15 January 2017 . live.
  2. Microsatellite variation reveals high levels of genetic variability and population structure in the gorgonian coral Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae across the Bahamas . Carla Gutierrez-Rodriguez . Howard R. Lasker . 9 July 2004 . Molecular Ecology . 13 . 8 . 2211–2221 . 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2004.02247.x . 15245395. 188031 .
  3. Pseudopterosin A: Protection of Synaptic Function and Potential as a Neuromodulatory Agent . Stacee Lee Caplan . Bo Zheng . Ken Dawson-Scully . Catherine A. White . Lyndon M. West . George Perry . 10 March 2016 . 10.3390/md14030055 . 26978375 . 14 . 3 . 55 . 4820309 . Marine Drugs . free .
  4. Book: Natural Product Synthesis II: Targets, Methods, Concepts . Johann Mulzer . 39 . 2005 . Springer Science & Business Media . 9783540211242 . 15 January 2017.
  5. Web site: Aquarium Invertebrates: Caribbean Gorgonians: Beauty in Motion . Julian Sprung . 1 March 2004 . advancedaquarist.com . 15 January 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170115210213/http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2004/3/inverts . 15 January 2017 . live.
  6. Reproductive biology, development, and planula behavior in the Caribbean gorgonian Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae . Carla Gutierrez-Rodriguez . Howard R. Lasker . 1 March 2004 . Invertebrate Biology . 10.1111/j.1744-7410.2004.tb00141.x . 123 . 1 . 54–67 .

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