Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Reversal of digestive interactions between Pacific reef corals: Mediation by sweeper tentacles

  • Published:
Oecologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Aggressive interactions among reef corals involving direct interference through extracoelenteric digestion has previously been considered as a potential mechanism for the maintenance of high species diversity. In this report I show that induced development of sweeper tentacles can reverse initial digestive interactions. In the eastern Pacific these reversals contribute to resource monopolization by fast growing pocilloporid corals. This suggests that other mechanisms must account for the maintenance of local species diversity.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

  • Connell JH (1973) Population ecology of reef-building corals. In: OA Jones and R Endean (eds) Biology and Geology of coral reefs, Vol. 2. Academic Press New York-London, p 205–245

    Google Scholar 

  • Connell JH (1976) Competitive interactions and the species diversity of corals. In: GO Mackie (ed), Coelenterate Ecology and Behavior. Plenum: New York, p 51–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Connell JH (1978) Diversity in tropical rain forests and coral reefs. Science 199:1302–1310

    Google Scholar 

  • den Hartog JC (1977) The marginal tentacles of Rhotactis sanctithomae (Corallimorpharia) and the sweeper tentacles of Montastrea cavernosa (Scleractinia) their cnidom and possible function. In: Proc Third Int Coral Reef Sym, Univ of Miami, Florida, p 463–469

  • Dustan P (1975) Genecological differentiation in the reef-building coral Montastrea annularis. PhD Thesis, State University of New York, Stonybrook

    Google Scholar 

  • Francis L (1973) Clone specific segregation in the sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima. Biol Bull 144:64–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Glynn PW (1974) Rolling stones among the Scleractinia: mobile corallith communities in the Gulf of Panama. In: Proc Second Int Coral Reef Sym, Vol 2. Gt Barrier Reef Comm, Brisbane, Australia, p 183–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Glynn PW (1976) Some physical and biological determinants of coral community structure in the eastern Pacific. Ecol Monogr 46:431–456

    Google Scholar 

  • Glynn PW, Stewart RH, McCosker JE (1972) Pacific coral reefs in Panama: structure, distribution and predators. Geol Rdsch, 61:483–519

    Google Scholar 

  • Glynn PW, Steward RH (1973) Distribution of coral reefs in the Pearl Islands (Gulf of Panama) in relation to thermal conditions. Limnol Oceanogr, 18:367–379

    Google Scholar 

  • Lang JC (1970) Inter-specific aggression within the Scleractinian reef corals. PhD Thesis, Yale University New Haven

  • Lang JC (1973) Interspecific aggression by scleractinian corals. 2. Why the race is not only to the swift. Bull Mar Sci 23:260–279

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis JR, Price WS (1975) Feeding mechanisms and feeding strategies of Atlantic reef corals. J Zool (London) 176:527–545

    Google Scholar 

  • Maguire LA, Porter JW (1977) A spatial model of growth and competition strategies in coral communities. Ecol Modelling 3:249–271

    Google Scholar 

  • Maragos JE (1972) A study of the ecology of Hawaiian reef coral. PhD Thesis, University of Hawaii Honolulu

  • Mariscal RN (1974) Nematocysts. In: L Muscatine and HM Lenoff (eds). Coelenterate Biology. Academic Press: New York-London, p 129–178

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter JW (1972) Patterns of species diversity in Caribbean reef corals. Ecology 53:744–748

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter JW (1974) Community structure of coral reefs on opposite sides of the Isthmus of Panama. Science 186:543–545

    Google Scholar 

  • Price WS (1973) Aspects of feeding behavior of West Indian reef corals. M Sc Thesis McGill University Montreal

    Google Scholar 

  • Purcell JE (1977) Aggressive function and induced development of catch tentacles in the sea anemone, Metridium senile (Coelenterata, Actiniaria). Biol Bull 153:335–368

    Google Scholar 

  • Richardson CA, Dustan P, Lang JC (1979) Maintenance of living space by sweeper tentacles of Montastrea cavernosa, a Caribbean reef coral. Mar Biol 55:181–186

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheppart CRC (1979) Interspecific aggression between reef corals with reference to their distribution. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 1:237–247

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams RB (1975) Catch-tentacles in sea anemones: occurrence in Haliplanella luciae (Verrill) and a review of current knowledge. J Nat Hist 9:241–248

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Science Institute, University of California, 93106, Santa Barbara, Ca, USA

    Gerard M. Wellington

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of California, 93106, Santa Barbara, Ca, USA

    Gerard M. Wellington

  3. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute APO, 34002, Miami, Fl, USA

    Gerard M. Wellington

Authors
  1. Gerard M. Wellington
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wellington, G.M. Reversal of digestive interactions between Pacific reef corals: Mediation by sweeper tentacles. Oecologia 47, 340–343 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00398527

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00398527

Keywords

Search

Navigation