Skip to main content
Log in

An assemblage of mollusks associated with the high latitude scleractinian coral Alveopora japonica (Eguchi 1968) in Jeju Island, off the south coast of Korea

  • Article
  • Published:
Ocean Science Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Corals reefs and communities support a wide range of flora and fauna. The complete richness and abundance of faunal communities in either coral reefs or communities is not fully understood. This is especially true for high-latitude coral communities. In this work, we carried out an analysis of an Alveopora japonica associated mollusk assemblage, in Jeju Island, Korea. A. japonica is one of the major coral species present in high abundance (88–155 colonies m-2), with a high recruitment rate (7.8 juvenile corals m-2 yr-1) in Jeju Island, and may serve as a habitat for other benthic organisms. In 2012, a total number of 579 A. japonica colonies with sizes ranging between 15.1-346.7 cm2 in the surface area were collected from a 1m× 10m quadrat installed at a depth of 10 m at Keumneung, on the northwest coast of Jeju Island. Numerous benthic invertebrates were found to be associated with A. japonica colonies. Twenty-seven bivalves and gastropods were identified, including a boring mytilid, Lithophaga curta, and an arcid, Barbatia stearnsi. A zonalgeographical examination of the distribution ranges of these mollusks revealed a majority of warmer water species. Our observations also showed that A. japonica may be providing a habitat to grazing gastropod, Turbo cornutus, and encrusting Spondylidae and Chamidae bivalves. A. japonica forms a coral carpet with a distinct assemblage of bivalves. It is thought that the presence of these mollusks species in the coral indicates its use as a nursery for juvenile species, a ready food supply of organic detritus, and a refuge from predators.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Carter JG (1978) Ecology and evolution of the Gastrochaenacea (Mollusca, Bivalvia) with notes on the evolution of the endolithic habitat. Yale University, New Haven, Peabody Museum of Natural History Bulletin 41, 92 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark T, Morton B (1999) Relative roles of bioerosion and typhooninduced disturbance on the dynamics of a high latitude scleractinian coral community. J Mar Biol Assoc UK 79:803–820

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dai CF, Horng S (2009) Scleractinia fauna of Taiwan I. The complex group. National Taiwan University, Taipei, 172 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Dijkstra HH (1997) Results of the Rumphius biohistorical expedition to Ambon: Part 6. Mollusca, Bivalvia, Pectinidae. Zool Med Leiden 71:313–343

    Google Scholar 

  • FISHBASE (2012) A global information system on marine life. http://www.sealifebase.fisheries.ubc.ca Accessed 22 Mar 2015

  • Gofas S (2014) Gastropoda. World register of marine species. http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=101 Accessed 22 Mar 2015 Guam

    Google Scholar 

  • Mollusks (2013) Gastropods. http://www.bobabela.com/GuamMollusks/Stomatiidae/7234999_TDgKQ#!i=464867562&k=aFkKi Accessed 22 Mar 2015

  • Harii S, Omori M, Yamakawa H, Koike Y (2001) Sexual reproduction and larval settlement of the zooxanthellate coral Alveopora japonica Eguchi at high latitudes. Coral Reefs 20:19–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herrero-Pérezrul MD (2008) Diversity and abundance of reef macro invertebrates (Mollusca; Echinodermata) in the southern Gulf of California, México. In: Proceedings of the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium, Session number 26, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, 7–11 July 2008, pp 1343–1347

    Google Scholar 

  • Huber M (2010) Compendium of bivalves. ConchBooks, Hackenheim, 901 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Hyeong K, Shimamura M, Watanabe T, Yamano H, Sugihara K, Kim J (2008) Evaluation of Jeju/Tsushima hermatypic corals as sea surface temperature (SST) recorders. Ocean Polar Res 30:351–359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Je JG, Koo BJ Lee HG, Kim BI, Shin SH, Lee SW, Lee JH (2002) Habitats and zoobenthic species diversity in the coast of Jeju Island, Korea: as a baseline study for conserving coastal and marine biological diversity. Underwater Sci Tech 3:22–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Lutaenko KA, Noseworthy RG (2012) Catalogue of the living bivalvia of the continental coast of the Sea of Japan (East Sea). Dalnauka, Vladivostok, 167 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Min DK, Lee JS, Koh DB, Je JG (2004) Mollusks in Korea. Molluscan Research Institute, Seoul, 172 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Noseworthy RG, Choi KS (2010) The diversity and ecology of mollusks in Seogundo, off southern Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. Korean J Malacol 26:19–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Noseworthy RG, Lim NR, Choi KS (2007) A catalogue of the mollusks of Jeju Island, South Korea. Korean J Malacol 23:65–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Okutani T (2000) Marine mollusks in Japan. Tokai University Press, Tokyo, 1221 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Purchon, RD (1981) The marine shelled mollusca of West Malaysia and Singapore Part 1. General introduction and an account of the collecting stations. J Mollus Stud 47:290–312

    Google Scholar 

  • Qi Z (2004) Seashells of China. China Ocean Press, Beijing, 418 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Reed JK, Mikkelsen PM (1987) The molluscan community associated with the scleractinian coral Oculina varicosa. B Mar Sci 40:99–131

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheppard A, Fenner D, Edwards A, Abrar M, Ochavillo D (2008) Alveopora japonica. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (Version 2013.1). http://www.iucnredlist.org Accessed 22 Mar 2015

    Google Scholar 

  • Stella JS, Pratchett MS, Hutchings PA, Jones GP (2011) Coralassociated invertebrates: diversity, ecological importance and vulnerability to disturbance. Oceanogr Mar Biol 49:43–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Sugihara K, Yamano H, Choi K-S, Hyeong K (2014) Zooxanthellate scleractinian corals of Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. In: Nakano S, Yahara T, Nakashizuka T (eds) Integrative observations and assessments. Asia-Pacfic Biodiversity Observation Network (AP-BON), Tokyo, pp 111–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Thamrin M, Tokeshi M, Nojima S (2001) Effect of coral-inhabiting barnacle (Cantellius pallidus) on planula production in a scleractinian coral Alveopora japonica. Ophelia 55:93–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valentich-Scott P (2003) A taxonomic, distributional and bibliographic checklist of Hong Kong marine bivalve mollusks and research published on them from 1971–2000. In: Morton B (ed) Perspectives on marine environmental change in Hong Kong and southern China, 1977–2001. The Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, pp 259–310

    Google Scholar 

  • Veron JEN (2000) Corals of the world, Volume 3. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, 1382 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Viera C, Keshavmurthy S, Ju SJ, Hyeong K, Seo I, Kang CK, Hong HY, Chen CA, Choi KS (2015) Population dynamics of a high latitude coral Alveopora japonica Eguchi from Jeju Island, off the south coast of Korea. Mar Freshwater Res. doi: 10.1071/MF14330 (in press)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yonge CM (1955) Adaptation to rock boring in Botula and Lithophaga (Lamellibranchia, Mytilidae) with a discussion on the evolution of this habit. Q J Microsc Sci 96:383–410

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuschin M, Piller WE (1997) Bivalve distribution on coral carpets in the northern Bay of Safaga (Red Sea, Egypt) and its relation to environmental parameters. Facies 37:193–204

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kwang-Sik Choi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Noseworthy, R.G., Hong, HK., Keshavmurthy, S. et al. An assemblage of mollusks associated with the high latitude scleractinian coral Alveopora japonica (Eguchi 1968) in Jeju Island, off the south coast of Korea. Ocean Sci. J. 51, 21–31 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12601-016-0003-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12601-016-0003-2

Keywords

Navigation