Cauliflower Coral – Pocillopora grandis

, Cauliflower Coral - Pocillopora grandis, Pocillopora grandis
Depth: 2 - 20 m

Afghanistan, Alaska, Algeria, Andaman and Nicobar, Angola, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Arctic, Argentina, Ascension Island, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Azores Islands, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Canary Islands, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Cocos Islands, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Corsica Island, Crete Island, Croatia, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, El Salvador, England, Equatorial Guinea, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Gabon, Galapagos Islands, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hawaii, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macedonia, Madagascar, Madeira Islands, Malawi, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, North Korea, Northern Ireland, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Reunion Island, Romania, Russia, Saint Martin, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sardinia Island, Scotland, Senegal, Serbia, Sicily Island, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia And The South Sandwich Islands, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Uruguay, US Minor Islands, USA, Uzbekistan, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Wales, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Amvrakikos Gulf, Andaman Sea, Arabian Sea, Aral Sea, Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Baltic Sea, Barents Sea, Bay of Bengal, Bay of Biscay, Beaufort Sea, Bering Sea, Black Sea, Bohai Sea, Cantabrian Sea, Celtic Sea, Chukchi Sea, Coral Sea, Dead Sea, English Channel, German Bight, Great Barrier Reef, Greenland Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Fonseca, Gulf of Maine, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Halmahera Sea, Iberian Sea, Indian Ocean, Java Sea, Korinthiakos Gulf, Labrador Sea, Levantine Sea, Lingayan Gulf, Mediterranean Sea, Moro Gulf, Okhotsk Sea, Pacific Ocean, Pagassitikos Gulf, Salish Sea, Saronikos Gulf, Scotia Sea, Sea of Azov, Sea of Marmara, Siberian Sea, South China Sea, Southern Ocean, Thermaikos Gulf, Yellow Sea

Cauliflower Coral, scientifically known as Pocillopora grandis, is a captivating coral species renowned for its unique, branching structure reminiscent of a cauliflower. This coral, belonging to the family Pocilloporidae, is a significant contributor to the biodiversity of the marine environment, showcasing a fascinating interplay of life and environment.

Description & Characteristics

Pocillopora grandis stands out due to its distinctive branching morphology. Its corallites, the individual polyp structures, are densely packed and interconnected, giving it a distinctive cauliflower-like appearance. The branches, often characterized by a rough, textured surface, can grow to a considerable size, reaching a maximum of over 1 meter in length. The color of this coral can vary, displaying hues of brown, green, and yellow, often depending on the presence of symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae, which play a crucial role in its survival.

Habitat and Occurrence

Pocillopora grandis exhibits a preference for shallow, well-lit waters. Its preferred habitat is the Intertidal (Eulittoral) zone, the area between the high and low tide lines characterized by the alternation of low and high tides. This zone exposes the coral to both air and water, necessitating specific adaptations for survival. These adaptations include a robust skeletal structure to withstand wave action and a tolerance to fluctuating salinity levels. The distribution of this coral species extends across various tropical and subtropical regions, making it a prevalent presence in these aquatic ecosystems.

Taxonomy

The species Pocillopora grandis is classified within the Class: Hexacorallia, Order: Scleractinia, and Family: Pocilloporidae. This classification highlights its shared characteristics with other stony corals, which possess a hard, calcium carbonate skeleton and exhibit a hexagonal arrangement of tentacles.

Feeding

Pocillopora grandis, like other corals, exhibits a mixed feeding strategy. It derives sustenance from a combination of sources:

  • Dissolved inorganic substances: Pocillopora grandis absorbs essential dissolved inorganic substances such as sodium chloride (NaCl), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), iodine (I), and phosphate (P) directly from the surrounding seawater.
  • Dissolved organic substances: This coral species can also absorb dissolved organic substances from the water, which are the byproducts of other organisms’ decomposition.
  • Plankton: Pocillopora grandis captures and consumes small plankton organisms, including zooplankton and phytoplankton, using its tentacles.
  • Zooxanthellae / Light: The symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae, microscopic algae residing within the coral tissues, provides a significant portion of its energy. These algae utilize sunlight to perform photosynthesis, generating sugars that are shared with the coral.

This diverse nutritional strategy allows Pocillopora grandis to thrive in its varied environment, ensuring its continued success in the marine ecosystem.

Associated Species

Image References

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