Pagoda coral (Turbinaria mesenterina)

Description

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Pagoda coral fact file

• Description
• Biology
• Range
• Habitat
• Status
• Threats
• Conservation
• Find out more
• Glossary
• References
• Print factsheet

Pagoda coral description

Turbinaria mesenterina is a reef-building coral, its colonies forming thin, overlapping, grey-green or grey-brown plates ^{(3) (4) (5)}. The plates may be variable in shape, depending on water depth and hence light availability, with those in shallow areas highly contorted and fused, those on upper reef slopes more upright and tiered, and those in deep water usually horizontal ^{(3) (4) (6) (7)}. The colonies of this species are usually less than a metre across, but may grow much larger on fringing reefs ^{(3) (4)}. As in other corals, the colonies are made up of numerous tiny polyps, which secrete a calcium carbonate skeleton. The individual polyp skeletons of this species, known as ‘corallites’, are around 2.5 millimetres in diameter, and are crowded together ^{(3) (4)}. Each polyp bears relatively long tentacles, which are usually only extended at night ^{(3) (4) (8)}.

Turbinaria mesenterina is similar in appearance to Turbinaria reniformis, but can be recognised by its slightly different colour, more horizontal than vertical fronds, and smoother appearance ^{(3) (4)}. Turbinaria peltata also occurs in similar conditions to this species, but can be distinguished by its thicker plates and larger polyps, whose tentacles are often extended during the day ⁽⁵⁾.

Also known as

bowl coral, cup coral, folded lettuce coral, scroll coral, vase coral.

Pagoda coral biology

Turbinaria is one of just four hermatypic (reef-building) coral genera within the Dendrophylliidae family ⁽³⁾. Like other hermatypic corals, Turbinaria mesenterina obtains most of its nutrients from microscopic algae, known as zooxanthellae, which live within its tissues and produce energy-rich nutrients through photosynthesis. The diet may also be supplemented with zooplankton, caught using stinging cells on the tentacles ^{(3) (9)}.

Pagoda coral range

Turbinaria mesenterina occurs across the Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Gulf, and the western and central Pacific Ocean ^{(1) (3) (4) (8)}.

Pagoda coral habitat

This coral is common in shallow, turbid reef habitats, where it may be a dominant species ^{(1) (3) (4) (5)}. Turbinaria mesenterina has been recorded at depths of up to 20 metres ⁽¹⁾.

Pagoda coral status

The pagoda coral is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List ⁽¹⁾ and listed on Appendix II of CITES ⁽²⁾.

Pagoda coral threats

In general, the greatest threat to coral species is believed to be global climate change, which is likely to lead to an increase in severe storms, and to increased ocean acidification, which can reduce the ability of a coral to produce its hard skeleton. Rising sea temperatures can also lead to coral bleaching, in which the coral expels it zooxanthellae, often resulting in death. In addition, coral reefs are under pressure from a range of localised threats including human development, destructive fishing practices, pollution, sedimentation, disease and invasive species ^{(1) (9) (10) (11)}.

Although still widespread and common throughout its range ⁽¹⁾, Turbinaria mesenterina is likely to face similar threats to other reef-building corals, around a third of which are now threatened with extinction ⁽¹⁰⁾. In addition, this species is collected for the aquarium trade ⁽¹⁾, and has recently been affected by an infectious disease known as Australian subtropical white syndrome in waters around Australia ⁽¹²⁾. However, it has been shown to be relatively tolerant of sedimentation, suggesting that increased sedimentation, associated with erosion and increased storm activity, is less likely to pose a threat than in many other coral species ⁽¹³⁾.

Pagoda coral conservation

Although parts of this species’ range fall within Marine Protected Areas ⁽¹⁾, including the Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Australia ⁽¹⁴⁾, many of these areas do not receive adequate enforcement ⁽⁹⁾, and currently less than half a percent of all marine habitats are protected ⁽¹⁵⁾. International trade in Turbinaria mesenterina should be regulated by its listing on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) ⁽²⁾.

Conservation measures recommended for corals include further research, expansion of Marine Protected Areas, disease and parasite management, artificial propagation techniques, and fisheries management ^{(1) (9) (11)}. It will also be important to monitor the effect of collection of Turbinaria mesenterina for the aquarium trade, particularly in Indonesia, the largest exporter ⁽¹⁾, while mechanical removal of diseased colony margins may provide a method for minimising the effects of disease on the species, albeit on a fairly local scale ⁽¹²⁾.

Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi is a principal sponsor of ARKive. EAD is working to protect and conserve the environment as well as promoting sustainable development in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

Find out more

For more information on corals and their conservation see:

• Veron, J.E.N. (2000) Corals of the World. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia.
• Reef Check
  http://www.reefcheck.org/
• The Coral Reef Alliance
  http://www.coral.org/

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Glossary

Algae

Simple plants that lack roots, stems and leaves but contain the green pigment chlorophyll. Most occur in marine and freshwater habitats.

Colony

A group of organisms living together. Individuals in the group are not physiologically connected and may not be related, such as a colony of birds. Another meaning refers to organisms, such as bryozoans, which are composed of numerous genetically identical modules (also referred to as zooids or ‘individuals’), which are produced by budding and remain physiologically connected.

Fertilisation

The fusion of gametes (male and female reproductive cells) to produce an embryo, which grows into a new individual.

Genus

(plural genera); a category used in taxonomy, which is below ‘family’ and above ‘species’. A genus tends to contain species that have characteristics in common. The genus forms the first part of a ‘binomial’ Latin species name; the second part is the specific name.

Hermatypic

Reef-building corals. Most hermatypic corals have a close association with algae known as zooxanthellae, which live in their tissues. These corals are restricted to shallow, tropical, marine environments. Over time the accumulated deposition of calcium carbonate (limestone) by many hermatypic corals can form large limestone structures known as coral reefs.

Larvae

Stage in an animal’s lifecycle after it hatches from the egg. Larvae are typically very different in appearance to adults; they are able to feed and move around but usually are unable to reproduce.

Photosynthesis

Metabolic process characteristic of plants in which carbon dioxide is broken down, using energy from sunlight absorbed by the green pigment chlorophyll. Organic compounds are made and oxygen is given off as a by-product.

Polyp

Typically sedentary soft-bodied component of cnidaria, a group of simple aquatic animals including the sea anemones, corals and jellyfish. A polyp comprises a trunk that is fixed at the base, and a mouth that is placed at the opposite end of the trunk and is surrounded by tentacles.

Zooplankton

Tiny aquatic animals that drift with currents or swim weakly in water.

References

1. IUCN Red List (May, 2010)
   http://www.iucnredlist.org/
2. CITES (May, 2010)
   http://www.cites.org/
3. Veron, J.E.N. (2000) Corals of the World. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia.
4. Veron, J.E.N. (1993) Corals of Australia and the Indo-Pacific. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii.
5. Hellyer, P. and Aspinall, S. (2005) The Emirates: A Natural History. Trident Press Limited, London.
6. Hoogenboom, M.O., Connolly, S.R. and Anthony, K.R.N. (2008) Interactions between morphological and physiological plasticity optimize energy acquisition in corals. Ecology, 89(4): 1144-1154.
7. Anthony, K.R.N., Hoogenboom, M.O. and Connolly, S.R. (2005) Adaptive variation in coral geometry and the optimization of internal colony light climates. Functional Ecology, 19: 17-26.
8. Erhardt, H. and Moosleitner, H. (1998) Marine Atlas. Volume 2. Mergus, Melle, Germany.
9. Miththapala, S. (2008) Coral Reefs. Coastal Ecosystems Series (Volume 1). Ecosystems and Livelihoods Group Asia, IUCN, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Available at:
   http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/2008-012.pdf
10. Carpenter, KE et al. (2008) One-third of reef-building corals face elevated extinction risk from climate change and local impacts. Science, 321: 560-563.
11. Wilkinson, C. (2008) Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2008. Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network and Reef and Rainforest Research Center, Townsville, Australia. Available at:
    http://www.gcrmn.org/status2008.aspx
12. Dalton, S.J., Godwin, S., Smith, S.D.A. and Pereg, L. (2010) Australian subtropical white syndrome: a transmissible, temperature-dependent coral disease. Marine and Freshwater Research, 61: 342-350.
13. Sofonia, J.J. and Anthony, K.R.N. (2008) High-sediment tolerance in the reef coral Turbinaria mesenterina from the inner Great Barrier Reef lagoon (Australia). Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 78: 748-752.
14. UNEP-WCMC: Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia (May, 2010)
    http://www.unep-wcmc.org/medialibrary/2011/06/23/c5f5632e/Great%20Barrier%20Reef.pdf
15. UNEP: Fifty Key Facts about Seas and Oceans (May, 2010)
    http://www.unep.org/wed/2004/Downloads/PDFs/Key_Facts_E.pdf