Black corals (Anthozoa, Antipatharia) are among the most common and diverse coral taxa in benthic environments. Nevertheless, literature data about its ecology are fragmentary. This is mainly due to the paucity of field studies that have focused on this group in the past and to the characteristic bathophily of this taxon. Antipatharians, however, are known to constitute rich and diverse communities also in shallow-waters, sometimes creating wide coral forests. Here, their branching morphology is a suitable refuge for numerous species, which may give rise to a more or less specific relationship with their host. This overview represents a contribution to the knowledge of the biological and ecological role of the black corals in the benthic ecosystems, given the rich associated fauna. Living colonies of black corals are a suitable habitat for many species of epibiontic invertebrates (mainly crustaceans, polychaetes, cnidarians, mollusks and echinoderms) and for fish. In particular, some species exclusively inhabit black coral colonies and are tightly dependent upon them for their survival, such as sessile and vagile filter-feeders or vagile commensal organisms. Opportunistic or parasitic species have also been recorded. In addition, the skeleton of dead colonies represents a preferential substratum for the settlement of numerous benthic organisms. Besides epibiontic species, there are also numerous organisms living as endobionts inside the coelenteron and the tissues of the polyps. The monopodial colonies of Cirrhipathes cf. anguina, for instance, support the development of copepod eggs inside the mesenterial filaments of the polyps. In addition, the recent description and identification of zooxanthellae, inside the gastrodermal tissue of the polyps of an undescribed species of Cirrhipathes sp., proves the occurrence of an actual mutualistic symbiosis also in antipatharians, as in many other anthozoans. About 230 different associations have been reported for living black corals, which include mainly branched species of the families Antipathidae (61% of the recorded associations) and Myriopathidae (25%). The majority of the records involves tropical shallow-water antipatharian species. In the delicate equilibrium of the coral communities, black corals are among the most vulnerable groups, especially considering the heavy harvesting for the jewelry trade in the tropics and the trawling impact suffered in the temperate ecosystems. Exploration of their biological and ecological role may properly address conservation policies to preserve the biodiversity of this fragile component of the marine ecosystems.

Biological and ecological relevance of black corals (Antipatharia) in the benthic environment

BAVESTRELLO, GIORGIO;BO, MARZIA
2013-01-01

Abstract

Black corals (Anthozoa, Antipatharia) are among the most common and diverse coral taxa in benthic environments. Nevertheless, literature data about its ecology are fragmentary. This is mainly due to the paucity of field studies that have focused on this group in the past and to the characteristic bathophily of this taxon. Antipatharians, however, are known to constitute rich and diverse communities also in shallow-waters, sometimes creating wide coral forests. Here, their branching morphology is a suitable refuge for numerous species, which may give rise to a more or less specific relationship with their host. This overview represents a contribution to the knowledge of the biological and ecological role of the black corals in the benthic ecosystems, given the rich associated fauna. Living colonies of black corals are a suitable habitat for many species of epibiontic invertebrates (mainly crustaceans, polychaetes, cnidarians, mollusks and echinoderms) and for fish. In particular, some species exclusively inhabit black coral colonies and are tightly dependent upon them for their survival, such as sessile and vagile filter-feeders or vagile commensal organisms. Opportunistic or parasitic species have also been recorded. In addition, the skeleton of dead colonies represents a preferential substratum for the settlement of numerous benthic organisms. Besides epibiontic species, there are also numerous organisms living as endobionts inside the coelenteron and the tissues of the polyps. The monopodial colonies of Cirrhipathes cf. anguina, for instance, support the development of copepod eggs inside the mesenterial filaments of the polyps. In addition, the recent description and identification of zooxanthellae, inside the gastrodermal tissue of the polyps of an undescribed species of Cirrhipathes sp., proves the occurrence of an actual mutualistic symbiosis also in antipatharians, as in many other anthozoans. About 230 different associations have been reported for living black corals, which include mainly branched species of the families Antipathidae (61% of the recorded associations) and Myriopathidae (25%). The majority of the records involves tropical shallow-water antipatharian species. In the delicate equilibrium of the coral communities, black corals are among the most vulnerable groups, especially considering the heavy harvesting for the jewelry trade in the tropics and the trawling impact suffered in the temperate ecosystems. Exploration of their biological and ecological role may properly address conservation policies to preserve the biodiversity of this fragile component of the marine ecosystems.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11567/812192
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